What Jesus Did! 'The People Were Surprised' — John 7:14-15

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. "How does he know so much when he hasn't been trained?" they asked.
— John 7:14-15 NLT

Key Thought

Arrogance is such an unattractive and unnecessary trait. Not only is it sinful, but it also shuts us off from truth. None of us has a corner on the market for truth. Education, experience, and training should not mean that we refuse to learn something from someone who does not have these advantages. Christian living is about faithfulness, not about the letters that come after our names to indicate our degrees or certifications. Jesus came from God. He spoke the truth of God. He called others to share God's message. He calls us to listen to others whose lives reflect the truth of that message and learn from them without prejudice. Education, experience, and training can be fantastic tools when coupled with humility. Let's commit to being true disciples. Let's commit to being life-long learners!

Today's Prayer

Father, forgive me for those times that I have not listened to others because I have thought that they had nothing to teach me. Humble me gently. Help me discern your truth no matter from whom I need to learn it. Give me a heart that is open to all that you want to teach me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

What Will You Decide?
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Precious One, Do you really want to know whether or not I came from God or I am a fraud? First, you need to realize that is the real question....."

Illustration

Illustration of John 7:14-15 NLT — Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. "How does he know so much when he hasn't been trained?" they asked.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, May 23, 2026

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Song of Songs 1:13
"Myrrh may well be chosen as the type of Jesus on account of its preciousness, its perfume, its pleasantness, its healing, preserving, disinfecting..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Great Joy in Believing'
"Dear Precious One, I know faith is not easy, especially now living nearly two thousand years after My death, burial, and resurrection. So I want us....."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky:
"It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ. My hosanna is born of a furnace of doubt."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Slave to All' (1 Co. 9:19-23)
"Dear Father, lover of all peoples, Though I am free from all men, let me become a slave to all, that I may win many, many more people to the cause of..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!