Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
THURSDAY, August 26
John 7:14-36. How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?
It wasn’t true that Jesus had never been taught. He would have known the Hebrew scriptures well and have been able to recite long passages of them from memory. But he was not a professional teacher within the established structures of Judaism. Aspiring rabbis developed their reputations as scholars through discipleship with eminent teachers, establishing their own authority on the basis of the authority of their masters. People would tell stories of this or that contest between two famous rabbis and argue about which one’s argument was the soundest, somewhat as people today argue about the relative merits of baseball players. These stories of famous rabbis are still told among Jewish scholars. What puzzles his hearers in today’s reading: Jesus is acting like a rabbi but lacks the appropriate credentials and pedigree.
God often surprises us that way. Jesus’ consistent preference for people on the fringes of society—fishermen, tax collectors—is one such surprise. So was his humble birth. The people we encounter who unexpectedly teach us something about God’s love are not always religious professionals in religious settings. God sprinkles them throughout the world, and we happen upon them. (1994)
PRAY for the Diocese of Gippsland (Victoria, Australia)
Ps 18:1-20 * 18:21-50; Job 8:1-10, 20-22; Acts 10:17-33
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
A Meditation for Pentecost
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This certification by Jewish scholars helps me accept Jesus's interpretation of the Old Testamemt. Jesus interpretation of the Law and the Prophets should be the only one that I accept if I'm to call myself a follower of Christ.