Devotion - Tuesday, March 29

John 7:37-52 contains an interesting lesson on prejudice. The religious authorities have sent guards to arrest Jesus. When they draw near and begin to hear what he has to say, they abandon their assignment and return empty handed. Those who had sent them chide them and refuse to understand why they would have been swayed by Jesus' teaching.

Nicodemus once more enters the story. Remember that he had earlier gone to Jesus by night and been involved in that confusing dialogue about being born anew. Nicodemus asks if it isn't possible that Jesus is a prophet. The response to this is "Search (the scriptures) and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee."

Because of where Jesus is from (or where he is assumed to be from) any thought of him as God's messenger is dismissed. When these prejudicial statements are challenged, scripture is used as justification.

We might not reject someone's word because of their city of origin, but we might pre-judge them based on their ethnic background or their skin color. We are most likely to make assumptions based on their social status. It isn't always the case, but often we decide whether we will listen to them even before they have begun to speak. Are they dressed like a preppy or like a hick? Do they speak with a dialect?

Jesus is rejected because nothing in the ancient writings spoke of a prophet coming from Galilee. Was this the true reason, or did it justify their distaste for what he was saying? (Remember that he had called for the dismantling of the religious structures dear to them.) For whatever reason, they had previously determined that nothing good could come out of his mouth.

It is always a challenge to model our lives after Jesus rather than after those who opposed him. There are too many opportunities to assume the position of power and authority and self-righteousness which was favored by the Pharisees and scribes. Prejudices aid us in maintaining the status quo rather than being open to the new thing God is doing in our midst. Read this section of John for yourself and root out from your life the temptation to dismiss the unpopular voice.