You be the Judge ~ John 7:1-24

Sunday, August 16, 2026 ~ Pastor Nick Holloway

What does it really mean to judge rightly? In John chapter 7, we are confronted with a crowd of people making sweeping conclusions about Jesus based on nothing more than surface-level observations. They debated his identity, questioned his authority, and even plotted against him, all while missing the undeniable evidence standing right in front of them. The passage challenges us to move beyond the trap of judging by appearances and instead pursue what Jesus himself calls righteous judgment, the kind of discernment that looks deeper, weighs evidence honestly, and measures life against the standard of God rather than the shifting opinions of the crowd. Just as vinegar can look exactly like water until you get close enough to smell it, the things we trust in and the assumptions we make about others, about God, and even about ourselves can fool us completely when we only look at the surface. This message invites us to examine our own lives with that same honest, close-up lens and ask whether what we are living actually holds up under scrutiny.

Scripture Reference:

John 7:1-24 (primary passage)
John 5:15-16 (healing of the paralytic man, referenced during discussion of the Sabbath controversy)
John 6:66 (disciples departing from Jesus)
Psalm 46 (stand still and know that I am God)
Psalm 69:8 (becoming a stranger to one's brothers, prophesying Jesus's family rejection)
Psalm 20:7 (some trust in chariots and horses)
James 1:1 (James identifying as a servant rather than brother of Jesus)
2 Corinthians 13:5 (examine yourselves)