The Crossroad

When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

“We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded.

“Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?  This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”

Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.

They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes^[i] from Galilee!”  John 7:45-52

At various points in one’s life, people will find themselves at a crossroad.  You will look and see there are many different ways you can turn.  None of them look different, but you know the destination itself is different.  Usually, those who can see past the short term of that choice and looks deeper beyond the initial turning point will usually make the right decision.  I spoke previously about struggles in my married life.  My wife and I both have faced crossroads.  Sometimes separately, but many times together.  We always have looked beyond the initial turning point, and when we were not sure, we paused until we felt certain.  I won’t say that we were right all of the time, but most of the time, we were.  It has been our faith more than anything that has guided us, and to be honest, a Christ led decision has never been wrong.  Never.

We all hit crossroads in our journey of faith, but we should have surety that choosing Christ is always the right decision.  I was in a study on John focusing on whether Jesus was who He says He was.  In today’s verses my focus is primarily on the man called Nicodemus.  When Nicodemus first met Jesus, he was not buying into what Jesus was saying.  However, he was asking a number of questions trying to get understanding (ex. “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” John 3:4).  While reading this, I reflected on a poster in my office called ‘The Mood Elevator,’ and the best place to be on this elevator is the place called ‘curious.’  This is where you are neither assuming nor judging.  You are gathering information.  Nicodemus’s questions would be very telling because they set the stage for where you could tell he was officially at ‘the crossroad’ in Chapter 7.  Does he side with his fellow Pharisees or does he make the move toward Jesus.  He says, “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?”  Now that may initially sound like he really has not made a choice, but note that the rest of his brethren had already thought Jesus should be arrested and found guilty.  Thus, it is clear that his heart was already converting from non-believer to believer, and this would later be underlined as he would go with Joseph for the burial of Jesus (see John 19:38-42).  Although we find ourselves questioning which way we should turn, we can always ask questions and be curious to gather information as to what God is trying to tell us.  It is then we can make the best decision for it is based on instructions God has given us.

Following Christ is always righteous.  It can be difficult at times to see what God has in store for us, but if we are faithful and pray, we will always be able to see beyond the initial choice to where God ultimately resides.  Don’t be passive or decide prematurely.  Be curious because if you are like Nicodemus, you will come to the right choice.  What choices are weighing on you today?  How can you be curious when you are unsure which way God wants to take you?  My prayer is that we trust in God’s wisdom to get a clear vision of the righteous path when we make it to the crossroad.  Amen.