Assuming facts not in evidence

John 7:37-41

            I had a brother in law who refused to buy gasoline from Hess. One time 25 years ago he filled up there and it was while he was driving on that fill up that he had some car problems. So, no gas from them from then on. Meanwhile I fill up exclusively at Hess stations because I have never had a problem, it's always competitive and clean, if not pristine.  There it is, the "absolutely never Hess" guy and the I am 'the Hess guy'. Isn't it funny how we have our preferences?  We make judgements about things all the time based on what? Trivial incidental happenings? A good commercial or a bias of nationalities?

          I loved the one where people say I only buy American !  I invariably see them driving a vintage Ford Crown Victoria. Unfortunately for them, there was a time when the quintessential American car had so much foreign content (parts) that it had to be classified as a foreign car. Don't tell all those flag waving Americans who still seek out Crown Vics though.  We all have these judgements.

         The guy in this passage said ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? This person has made a judgement that someone holy, someone who would save Israel, the Messiah had to come from a certain holy city, a bloodline or some such. Many in Jesus' time were expecting the Messiah who would be a warrior and king. Surprise, surprise!

         I recall an episode of All in the Family when Archie has to get a blood transfusion and it winds out it came from a Black man. Archie was all happy, thankful and grateful until he is faced with the fact that his wellness is due to the least likely person he would have expected, or wanted. Archie had to grow up some and perhaps reassess his way of thinking after that.

        We all need to grow up and make reassessments because we all make silly judgements and decisions. It seems absolutely stupid to me not to buy Hess gasoline after a problem which may or may not have been associated with just that one tankful. As Jack McCoy would say, it assumes facts not in evidence. Don't get me wrong, I have made some pretty stupid judgements myself.  It isn't so much that we will never do that but we have to be aware and try not to. There is a good possibility that the person in this scripture passage will miss out on the Messiah simply because he can't fathom him coming from Galilee. 

        What will we miss out on because we don't want to see something?  Will we miss a a friend or family member because someone gay can't possibly be good , decent and loving? Will we turn our back on a helping hand if the person turns out they look like Muslim in a stereotypical way?

         Scriptures often say, 'for those that ears, listen'. I would add, for those that have eyes, see'.

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?