A Division Over Him (John 7:43)

 


Thursday, July 24, 2025


Psalms 56; 57

2 Samuel 6

John 7:32-53


A Division Over Him (John 7:43)


So there was a division among the people over him.


St John keeps using this phrase about “believing in” Jesus. So what do we “believe in” him about?


Is he the prophet? That is, is he the predecessor to the Messiah?


Or is he the Christ? That is, the Messiah himself?


Or is he of little to no consequence at all, because we have found some discrepancy in the scriptures (even though the discrepancy is due to our own lack of knowledge)?


There was a division among the people over him then, and there is a division among the people over him now. What are we to do?


Jesus gets up and speaks about living water again. He has done this before, with the woman at the well. But this time the author inserts a little editorial note: this Jesus said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.


We have here a question about unity in Christ, and a statement from Christ himself about the Holy Spirit. And here is where our answer lies. It is in the Holy Spirit that the divisions disappear. For the Spirit leads us to Christ, who brings us as adopted children of the Father. And he prays that we might be one, just as he and the Father are one.


All of God’s children by faith have the Spirit, and the Spirit is not divided, but bears fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all the fruit of the Spirit, and are that which unifies all Christians across time, space, and denominations.


Where are the divisions in your life? Where might the fruit of the Spirit break down those divisions?


Perfect and holy God, united in Trinity, who calls us by name and brings us into your fellowship: break down the barriers of division by the fruit of your Spirit, that we may know the overflow of living water you have implanted in us.

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