Internal Discussions

I've been in on some of those internal discussions. You know the ones. Spiritual leaders meet to discuss matters of faith or practices since the congregation is not sufficiently capable of processing such matters. A very public Jesus who says nothing in a corner and is crying out on the last day of the Feast has prompted a closed meeting of Jewish leaders. The participants in this meeting are the chief priests, the Pharisees, some temple officers who were sent to arrest Jesus, and Nicodemus, a secret disciple of Jesus who serves on the Jewish ruling council. Usually in these meetings someone is on the hot seat because they are questioning something. How dare anyone question a matter that the leaders have already judged. Case closed. The officers came back empty handed because it was not Jesus' time to be arrested and die. They were in trouble for something they could not possibly do. But, more importantly they were in trouble for being impressed with Jesus, and for actually listening to what He was saying. Was it the message about the water that got their attention? Were they thirsty? Did they want to hear more about this water, and the Holy Spirit? God forbid that they actually consider what Jesus is saying is true! The officers could not get passed the way Jesus spoke. "No man ever spoke like this man." Finally some truth in the midst of all this confusion!

The chief priests and Pharisees have three replies, and each reveal more about their hearts than it does the hearts of the officers. 1) "You have not also been led astray, have you?" The way to stifle discussion is to label it. In this case Jesus is labeled as one who leads others astray, and the officers are labeled as those who are being led astray. "You aren't falling for this guy's spiel are you?" "You are dumb enough to actually believe Him, are you?" Is this a yes/no question? "Are you still beating your wife?" This was a trap. Be careful of the traps of the Pharisees, Jesus has warned. They are clever. 2) "No one of the rulers of the Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?" Surely if Jesus was legit someone as smart as a Pharisee would be following Him. But since no one is, then that should tell you something. Surely Nicodemus; face must be turning red right about now (more to come on old Nic). This statement is another way to intimidate the guards. They are obviously not qualified to determine whether Jesus should be arrested or not. 3) "But the multitude which does not know the Law is accursed." In this statement they declare themselves the guardians of the faith, the bastions of truth, the keeper of the Law, and the crowds as stupid idiots who know nothing about such matters, and are not to be listened to. (Sound like some political discussions?)

But, look at Jesus' approach. He speaks freely in public. Later He can say, "Ask the crowds. They heard what I said." Jesus trusted the judgment of the crowds just as much as He did the judgment of their rulers. Though in reality He knew they were all biased, and needed to do what the temple guards did, i.e. stop and listen and be amazed at His teaching. These endless discussions might be reduced significantly if we would come together as beggars, humbly open the book, say a very long prayer before we begin to study it, and expect the guidance of the Spirit. In Florida we have the Sunshine Law. Public business must be held in the sunlight so that all can see what is being said and decided. Internal discussions are often meant to "put a lid" on something. Jesus was opening things up that last day of the Feast. Truth was meant for public consumption, not for closed door meetings.