Perception is not Reality

John 7:1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews [6] were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers [7] said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not [8] going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. 14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, [9] when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's [10] will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” ... 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
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I love the fact that Jesus came from a town that no one thought was good enough. It is as though the Son of God was born in Intercourse, Pennsylvania or something and then everybody who considers themselves intellectual says, "surely not!" But God is God and he can have his son born in any place he chooses. Same thing with the Jews. Why did He pick the Jews as his chosen people rather than the Canaanites or Philistines? He can do whatever he wants! I think he could have chosen any group, birth place or design he wanted, and he went with this one for many wonderful reasons beyond my comprehension. Here Jesus underlines the point that part of his plan is to weed out those who judge only by appearance. He teaches that there is a way of knowing the truth through the will to do God's will. This is echoed in Matthew 6 when we are told that our quest for God will be answered in time. In a sense, all people will find what they are ultimately looking for.