Monday, July 26, 2021
25-27 That’s when some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this the One they were out to kill? And here he is out in the open, saying whatever he pleases, and no one is stopping him. Could it be that the rulers know that he is, in fact, the Messiah? And yet, we know where this man came from. The Messiah is going to come out of nowhere. Nobody is going to know where he comes from.”
28-29 That provoked Jesus, who was teaching in the Temple, to cry out, “Yes, you think you know me and where I’m from, but that’s not where I’m from. I didn’t set myself up in business. My true origin is in the One who sent me, and you don’t know him at all. I come from him—that’s how I know him. He sent me here.”
30-31 They were looking for a way to arrest him, but not a hand was laid on him because it wasn’t yet God’s time. Instead, many from the crowd committed themselves in faith to him, saying, “Will the Messiah, when he comes, provide better or more convincing evidence than this?”
32-34 The Pharisees, alarmed at this seditious undertow going through the crowd, teamed up with the high priests and sent their police to arrest him. Jesus rebuffed them: “I am with you only a short time. Then I go on to the One who sent me. You will look for me, but you won’t find me. Where I am, you can’t come.”
35-36 The Jews put their heads together. “Where do you think he is going that we won’t be able to find him? Do you think he is about to travel to the Greek world to teach the Jews? What is he talking about, anyway: ‘You will look for me, but you won’t find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you can’t come?” -John 7:25-36 The Message.
Two verses here to unpack. Starting at verse 26, this chapter alone shows us different reactions people had towards Jesus.
- A good man. (7:12)
- A deceiver. (7:12)
- Demon-possessed. (7:20)
- The Christ. (7:26)
- And the Prophet. (7:40)
Many people didn’t know what to make of Jesus. As followers, we know our thoughts about Jesus in ways people that are confused about him don’t. For those that don’t know what to think, the next decision can be the worst or best decision they ever made.
Verse 27: The Messiah appearance was a famous traditional prediction. For anybody that believed this tradition was ignoring scriptures that clearly predicted the Messiah’s birthplace. (Micah 5:2)
Father, thank you for today. I pray that we can continue to stay the course of the work that you ask of us. Thank you for your wisdom to allow us to continue discussing with people about you. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
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