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b) Disparate views on Jesus among the people and the high council (John 7:14-63)
JOHN 7:21-24
21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
Jesus did not directly reply to the Jews’ charge that he had an evil spirit, but showed the crowd gathered that the sentence passed on him of death was a trivial one and unjust. He reminded them that the leaders’ judge against him was due to his healing of the cripple at Bethesda on the Sabbath. That day Jesus ordered him to take up his bed and go home restored. This was a great wonder and that miracle deserved a dismissal of the charge against him.
Then Jesus affirmed that the legal experts had themselves not kept the law perfectly. This law has its contradictions: Circumcision is the sign of the covenant with God, while the Sabbath speaks of fellowship in the rest of the Holy One. People had to circumcise their children on the eight day after birth, but this might fall on the Sabbath. Is not the circumcision a work?
Since illness is deemed a result of sin, the cure meant salvation, body, soul and spirit. Thus Jesus urged people to use their minds, to distinguish a service of mercy from circumcision on the Sabbath, which was more vital? He thus used logic as a means of awakening them to grasp the measure of his love and power and salvation. The effort was in vain; their ears were deaf and their spirits hardened – a just decision and good judgment was impossible for them.
JOHN 7:25-27
25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill? 26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ? 27 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
Jerusalem folk arrived at the temple to find a large crowd. When they noticed Jesus in the midst the focus of attention they were furious, since he was still moving freely despite the order for his arrest. That news was common knowledge.
The citizens of the capital mocked the Council for its weak handling of the case. The Romans had removed the right of imposing the death penalty from the Jewish rulers. People sneered saying, "The wanted man moves about freely in the city, preaching in the temple court unafraid. The rulers have no power to ban him. The priests were unable to bring him down with arguments or debate."
Others responded by, "You do not understand, some of the rulers may believe in him as the Messiah." This was the point made to explain their reluctance to arrest Jesus. Public opinion was divided among all groups.
A third opinion: If Messiah’s coming is assumed, he would radiate in a glorious mystic form, not be an ordinary person. This young man was a carpenter from the mountain village. The true Messiah will descend straight from heaven, not wandering among common people.
JOHN 7:28-30
28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
Jesus heard these arguments as to his earthly origins. He called out saying, "Do you really know Me? or where I come from? You are superficial in your judgments and do not essentially know me. Listen to me, delve deep into my Spirit. Then you will know who I am and where I came from."
Jesus did not send himself, but God was behind him from whom he proceeded; His Father was the One who sent him. Jesus was from the nature of his Father and ever united with Him. He added, "None of you know God, though you think He is here in the temple. Your priests are blind; they do not see God, nor truly hear His voice. So you deceive yourself."
Then he said, "I know Him." The essence of the Gospel is this, that Jesus knows God, and declares to us the Father’s name and His love. The Nazarene was sinless, living in constant fellowship with his Father. Whereas all others separated themselves from the Holy One on account of their sins.
When some hearers realized the importance of his words and that Jesus had decisively judged them, they cried, "He has blasphemed against the temple and turned us into infidels." They were furious and howled trying to seize him, but none of them were able to approach God’s Son, as if the angels were encircling him. The appointed time for his final witness on earth was yet to come. His Father had settled the exalt moment in which Christ would redeem mankind. No man on earth could put back or forward that moment.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we worship you, because you know God, and have revealed to us the Father. We serve you and love you with joy. Your revelation has made us children of God. We exult in you and magnify your name with all those born again. We beseech you to reveal the Father to the doubters around us, that they may return from their bigotry and neglect.
QUESTION:
- Why is Jesus the sole person who truly knows God?