FRIDAY 12TH JANUARY 2021
John 7:14-18
Jesus reveals his authority
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
It was the Feast of Tabernacles, where Jesus went up into the open field, and they looked for him and did not find him. But there was a great argument among them, that this Jesus did not know anything, but was deceiving the crowds! But the believers did not say anything because they were afraid of the Jews.
Then in the middle of wondering where Jesus is, the feast going on, we read this morning, Jesus goes into the temple and begins to teach. The Jews wonder how this uneducated man came to have this knowledge. Then Jesus tells them that, his teaching is from the one who sent him.
Unbelieving Jews are a symbol of people who do not believe the word of God. They did not accept Jesus, nor his teachings. That is, they rejected the one who sent him, now I do not know whom they wanted to believe.
Are there still unbelievers in the group of believers? That is, the Church? Our faith points us to the fact that Jesus came to bring salvation, which we receive through His word. Jesus left us His word, which has the power to heal and save. His Word is real, living, and powerful.
IJUMAA TAREHE 12 FEBRUARI 2021
Yohana 7:14-18
Yesu Atangaza Mamlaka Yake
14 Katikati ya sikukuu, Yesu alikwenda Hekaluni akaanza kuwafundisha watu. 15 Viongozi wa Wayahudi walistaajabia mafund isho yake wakasema, “Amefahamuje mambo haya naye hakusoma?”
16 Yesu akawajibu , “Mafundisho yangu hayatoki kwangu. Yanatoka kwake yeye aliyenituma. 17 Mtu ye yote akipenda kufanya mapenzi ya Mungu, atajua kama mafundisho yangu yanatoka kwa Mungu au ninasema kwa mamlaka yangu mwenyewe. 18 Mtu anayesema kwa mamlaka yake mwenyewe hufanya hivyo kwa kutaka kujitukuza. Lakini mtu anayetafuta kumtukuza Mungu aliyemtuma, ni mwaminifu na hana udhalimu wo wote.
Ilikuwa ni sikukuu ya vibanda, ambapo Yesu alikwea kuelekea huko sio kwa wazi, wakamtafuta wasimuone. Lakini kulikuwa na mjadala mkali miongoni mwao, kwamba huyu Yesu hajui kitu, bali anawadanganya makutano! Lakini walioamini hawakusema kitu kwa sababu ya kuwaogopa wayahudi.
Ndipo katikati ya kujiuliza Yesu yuko wapi, sikukuu ikiendelea, tunasoma asubuhi ya leo, Yesu anaingia hekaluni na anaanza kufundisha. Wayahudi wanajiuliza huyu asiye na elimu amekuwaje na ujuzi huu? Ndipo Yesu anawaambia kuwa mafundisho yake ni yake aliyempeleka.
Wayahudi wasioamini ni alama ya watu wasioamini neno la Mungu. Hawakumkubali Yesu, wala mafundisho yake. Yaani walimkataa aliyemtuma, sasa sijui walimtaka nani?
Bado kuna wasioamini katika kundi la waaminio? Yaani Kanisa? Imani yetu inatuelekeza kuwa Yesu alikuja kuleta wokovu, ambao tunaupata kupitia neno lake. Yesu alituachia neno lake, ambalo lina nguvu ya kuponya na kuokoa. Neno lake ni halisi, linaishi, lina nguvu.
Nakutakia Ijumaa njema.