10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. 14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 10:10-24 – English Standard Version)
We all make judgment. We make judgment based on facts and assumptions. And sometimes the facts can be deceptive and the assumptions can be false. People have different judgments on Jesus. While some said Jesus is a good man, others said He is leading the people astray. While some people amazed by Jesus’ teachings, others questioned about His ability to teach. How could the extreme comments be made on the same person? It lies in the different basis for the judgment. Jesus reminded us not to judge by appearance, but judge with right judgment. What does that mean? Another version of the Bible, the Message, says, “Don’t be nitpickers; use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right.” We need to use both our head and heart to make judgment. We do not merely believe in what we see and what we hear, but also what we feel. God gives us conscience to discern what is right and allows the Holy Spirit to guide our steps. We need to listen to our inner heart and the voice of the Holy Spirit. Our judgment needs to be tested. The right judgment can sustain through time. We need to continuously put our judgment in test, so we would be able to discern what is authentically right.
