April 28 - Don't Judge By Appearances

April 28 – Don’t Judge By Appearances

About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

“Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” Jesus answered them, “I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:14-24)

In the first part of this passage, the Jews were astonished that Jesus was able to teach in such a profound manner since he had no education.  At the end of the passage, Jesus says, ‘Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.’

It is really easy for us to judge someone based on very little information.  If we know that they don’t have a college education, we make judgments regarding their ability to relate information to us.  We might have no concept of their training and life experience – the simple fact that they don’t have a degree is a real block for some.

We make judgments based on people’s use and misuse of the English language.  We see how they dress their kids or what type of car they drive and make judgments regarding their behaviors – knowing no more than that.

Jesus knew that the Jews had judged Him based on the fact that He healed a man on the Sabbath.  While this makes absolutely no sense to us today, it was a terrible social mistake as well as a religious taboo.  The idea of crossing that line would have been frightening to most.    He reminded them that they performed some actions on the Sabbath – such as circumcision and that was ok, because they had a Law that said it was ok.  Healing a man and making him whole was not ok, though.

We make snap judgments based on our background, our lifestyles, our history, our understanding of the little worlds within which we live.  Jesus calls us out of those boxes.  We are only to make judgments based on God’s law … His law is love.  It is not condemnation, but love.  How might that change your interactions with others?