Am I Getting It Right?

Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.” [John 7.25-27]

When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” So the crowd was divided about him. [John 7.40-43]

It is absolutely imperative that Bible students recognize the differing opinions about Scripture found even here in John's Gospel. Clearly, people were divided on what they thought the Scriptures said.

If people were divided in Jesus' day about what the Scriptures said, how much more divided are they today?

The problem lies in ignorance. It is not an easy 'pill to swallow' but it was true then and it is certainly true today. I cannot recall the number of times I personally have heard people say something they 'thought' the Bible says that was, in fact, not accurate at all.

The question looms (for all of us to ask): Am I getting it right?

Father, it is all too easy for me to claim knowledge of the Bible when I may be terribly inaccurate or mistaken. Help me to be sure!