You Have a Devil - John 7:20

John the apostle wrote how in the middle of the feast, “Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, How knows this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why go you about to kill me?”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty of his book, John shared how the people told Jesus, “you have a devil” where we read:

The people answered and said, You have a devil: who goes about to kill you?

The verse reads, “The people answered and said, You have a devil:” John began with the words, “The people” or “the Jewish men and women” “answered and said” which means “responded and began to speak and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “you have a devil” or “you, Jesus, hold, own and possess an evil spirit or messenger and minister of the devil”. John shared how the Jewish people surrounding Jesus declared that He was “demon or evil spirit” possessed.

The verse continues, “who goes about to kill you?” John added words, “who goes about” which means “what person seeks, aims, craves, demands and strives” “to kill you” or “to destroy, inflict mortal death upon, extinguish and abolish you, Jesus”? John shared how the people asked Jesus “what person” “desired and craved” to “destroy and abolish” Him.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how the Jewish people wanted Jesus to answer what person “desired” to have Him dead. Jesus knew the Jewish people, particularly the religious leaders, wanted Him to be “dead”, and because they were threatened by His influence among the people, they wanted Him eliminated. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone, and anyone who yields their life to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of the sins which separate them from God. Though they may have desired that Jesus be “eliminated”, He not only will forgive them, but will also provide them with everlasting life.

Next time John shares how Jesus tells the people, “I have done one work, and you all marvel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".