Lent Day 20 [03.12.2026] Revealed in Glory or Rebellious in Darkness

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." - John 7:38

Scripture: John 7:25-52

Jesus’ words cause further commotion in Jerusalem. Some claimed that the Jewish leaders had accepted Jesus as the Messiah, while others tried to seize Him. On the final day of the festival, Jesus proclaimed that He is the source of life and beckons the people to come to Him. Upon hearing these words, some began to declare that Jesus is a prophet, and others even declared that Jesus is the Messiah; however, still others doubted Jesus because they thought Jesus was from Galilee which did not align with the prophecy regarding the Messiah in Micah 5:2. Historically, however, we know that Jesus was not born in Galilee but in Bethlehem on a manger and therefore fulfills this prophecy.

The crowd remained divided and amid all the commotion, the chief priests and Pharisees attempt to capture Jesus, but no one was able to lay a hand on Him. The guards failed to capture Jesus because of what and how He spoke and in anger the Jewish leaders reveal their true hearts and nature. To them, how could the people believe when their Jewish leaders did not. The chief priests and Pharisees declare that there must be curse upon the people for them to accept Jesus’ words because only they know the law of God and if they did not accept Jesus then how could the people? The only Jewish leader who raises their voice is Nicodemus who urges the Jewish leaders to provide Jesus a hearing. Despite his efforts, the Jewish leaders hurl insults at Nicodemus and hold onto their heart of rebellion.

Why were the Pharisees and Jewish leaders so adamantly opposed to Jesus? Beyond breaking their religious traditions, Jesus still performed many miracles and wonders that they had never seen or heard of before. There was clear reason to give Jesus a hearing, but the Jewish leaders refused to even hear Jesus speak. It was simply because Jesus made them look bad. In Jesus’ teachings, he exposed their hypocrisy, manipulation, and greed. Rather than lead the people to God, they stood as a hindrance and burdened their own people with laws and regulations which they used to accuse them of sin and manipulate them in shame. They claimed to be holy but when paralleled with Jesus’ life and teachings, they were exposed as false and evil. One of the greatest practices that a Christian can use to measure the Godliness of an action, thought, or emotion is to confront it or challenge it with the identity and words of Jesus Christ. If continuing in this action, thought, or emotion causes us to actively reject or avoid the light then it is not of God, but if continuing this action, thought, or emotions highlights the words of Jesus Christ then it is of God.

Reflection:

1.     What is a habit, thought, or emotion that needs to change when confronted by Jesus Christ?

2.     What is something we have done recently that highlights the words, life, and character of Jesus Christ?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the light of your words and truth. There are times in my life when this light is uncomfortable to face, but please give me the courage to always align my life with yours. You are not doing this to condemn or reject me, but to save and to transform me. Help me to trust in you through this process. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 영광 가운데 드러남인가, 어둠 속 반역인가

본문: John 7:25–52

예수님의 말씀은 예루살렘에서 더 큰 소동을 일으켰습니다. 어떤 사람들은 유대 지도자들이 예수님을 메시아로 받아들인 것이라고 주장했고, 다른 사람들은 예수님을 붙잡으려고 했습니다. 명절의 마지막 날에 예수님은 자신이 생명의 근원임을 선포하시며 사람들에게 자신에게로 나오라고 초청하셨습니다. 이 말씀을 들은 사람들 중에는 예수님을 선지자라고 말하는 사람들도 있었고, 어떤 이들은 그분이 메시아라고 선언하기도 했습니다. 그러나 또 다른 사람들은 예수님이 갈릴리 출신이라고 생각했기 때문에 메시아에 대한 미가 5장 2절의 예언과 맞지 않는다고 의심했습니다. 그러나 역사적으로 우리는 예수님이 갈릴리에서 태어나신 것이 아니라 베들레헴의 마구간에서 태어나셨음을 알고 있으며, 따라서 그분은 이 예언을 온전히 성취하셨습니다.

군중은 계속해서 나뉘어 있었고, 이 모든 소동 가운데 대제사장들과 바리새인들은 예수님을 붙잡으려고 했지만 아무도 그분께 손을 댈 수 없었습니다. 경비병들이 예수님을 붙잡지 못한 이유는 예수님의 말씀과 그 말씀을 전하시는 방식 때문이었습니다. 이에 분노한 유대 지도자들은 그들의 진짜 마음과 본성을 드러냅니다. 그들은 유대 지도자들인 자신들이 예수님을 받아들이지 않는데 어떻게 백성들이 예수님을 믿을 수 있느냐고 말했습니다. 대제사장들과 바리새인들은 백성들이 예수님의 말을 받아들이는 것은 저주를 받은 것과 같다고 선언합니다. 왜냐하면 오직 자신들만이 하나님의 율법을 안다고 생각했기 때문입니다. 만약 자신들이 예수님을 받아들이지 않았다면, 백성들도 받아들여서는 안 된다고 생각했던 것입니다. 그때 유일하게 목소리를 낸 유대 지도자는 니고데모였습니다. 그는 예수님에게 먼저 변명할 기회를 주어야 한다고 주장했습니다. 그러나 그의 노력에도 불구하고 유대 지도자들은 니고데모를 모욕하며 계속해서 반역적인 마음을 붙잡았습니다.

그렇다면 왜 바리새인들과 유대 지도자들은 이렇게까지 예수님을 강하게 반대했을까요? 예수님이 그들의 종교적 전통을 깨뜨린 것뿐만 아니라, 그들이 한 번도 보거나 듣지 못했던 많은 기적과 놀라운 일들을 행하셨음에도 불구하고 말입니다. 예수님에게 말씀하실 기회를 주어야 할 충분한 이유가 있었지만, 유대 지도자들은 예수님의 말씀을 들으려고조차 하지 않았습니다. 그 이유는 단순했습니다. 예수님이 그들을 부끄럽게 만들었기 때문입니다.

예수님의 가르침은 그들의 위선과 조작, 그리고 탐욕을 드러냈습니다. 그들은 백성을 하나님께로 인도하기보다는 오히려 장애물이 되었고, 수많은 규칙과 율법을 백성들에게 짐으로 지우며 그것을 통해 사람들을 죄인으로 정죄하고 수치심으로 조종했습니다. 그들은 스스로 거룩하다고 주장했지만, 예수님의 삶과 가르침과 나란히 놓였을 때 그들의 모습은 거짓되고 악한 것으로 드러났습니다.

그리스도인이 하나님 앞에서 어떤 행동, 생각, 또는 감정이 하나님께서 기뻐하시는 것인지 판단할 수 있는 가장 중요한 방법 중 하나는 그것을 예수 그리스도의 정체성과 말씀 앞에 가져가 보는 것입니다. 만약 어떤 행동이나 생각, 감정을 계속할 때 우리가 빛을 거부하거나 피하게 된다면 그것은 하나님께로부터 온 것이 아닙니다. 그러나 그 행동이나 생각, 감정이 예수님의 말씀을 더욱 드러내고 나타낸다면 그것은 하나님께로부터 온 것입니다.

묵상 질문

1. 예수 그리스도의 빛 앞에서 변화되어야 할 나의 습관, 생각, 혹은 감정은 무엇입니까?

2. 최근에 내가 했던 일 가운데 예수님의 말씀과 삶, 그리고 성품을 드러낸 것은 무엇입니까?

   
   

기도

사랑하는 하나님, 주님의 말씀과 진리의 빛을 허락해 주셔서 감사합니다. 때때로 이 빛을 마주하는 것이 불편하게 느껴질 때도 있지만, 제 삶을 항상 주님의 뜻에 맞추어 살아갈 수 있는 용기를 허락해 주십시오. 주님께서는 저를 정죄하거나 버리기 위해서가 아니라, 저를 구원하시고 변화시키기 위해 일하고 계심을 믿습니다. 이 과정 가운데 주님을 더욱 신뢰하게 하여 주십시오.예수님의 이름으로 기도합니다. 아멘.