Blindness in the midst of Truth

John 7:6-24 - Pastor Scott Thompson

April 12th, 2026

In John 7:6-24 we see a clear contrast between the wisdom of Christ and the blindness of the world. Jesus is speaking during the time of the Feast of Booths, a significant Jewish celebration that remembered God’s provision in the wilderness. His brothers urge Him to go publicly, seeking recognition. Yet their counsel is shaped by unbelief. They do not understand His mission or His timing.

Jesus responds in verse 6, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.” This reveals a deep truth about His ministry. Christ does nothing apart from the will of the Father. Every step He takes is governed by divine purpose. The world operates on its own schedule, driven by human ambition, but Jesus walks in perfect submission to God’s appointed time.

He eventually goes to the feast, but not in the way they expected. He goes quietly, not seeking worldly attention. This alone challenges our tendency to pursue recognition. Christ’s mission was not to gain applause, but to accomplish redemption.

As He begins teaching in the temple, the people are astonished. They question how He has such understanding without formal training. Jesus answers in verse 16, “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me.” Here we see the authority of Christ. His words are not self-derived. They come directly from the Father. This is why His teaching carries such weight. It is divine truth.

He then exposes the real issue in verse 17. “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God.” The problem is not lack of evidence. It is the condition of the heart. Those who desire to obey God will recognize truth when they hear it. Those who reject God will remain blind, no matter how clearly truth is presented.

Jesus confronts their hypocrisy by addressing their misuse of the Law. They pride themselves on following Moses, yet they seek to kill Him, the One whom the Law ultimately points to. He uses the example of circumcision on the Sabbath to show their inconsistency. They are willing to perform a work on the Sabbath for the sake of the Law, yet they condemn Him for making a man completely well on the Sabbath.

In verse 24 He gives a direct command: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” This cuts to the heart of the matter. The people were evaluating Jesus based on outward assumptions rather than truth. Right judgment requires alignment with God’s Word, not human opinion.

This passage reminds us that Christ’s ways are not shaped by human expectations. His timing, His teaching, and His authority all come from the Father. It also exposes the reality that unbelief is not merely intellectual. It is moral and spiritual. People reject Christ because they do not want to submit to God.

At the same time, there is a call here for self-examination. Are we judging rightly according to Scripture, or are we relying on appearances and personal preferences? True discernment comes from a heart that is willing to do the will of God.

We always encourage everyone to check everything through the lens of the Scriptures. Be like the noble Bereans of Paul's day. Please visit us here for much more, and remember, Christ is enough.

Together let us surrender wholeheartedly to Christ our Lord, and lets go serve our King!

FRF Family