Divided Opinions About Jesus
April 9, 2020
Commentary
In yesterday’s passage, Jesus gave an invitation, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37b-38 NKJV). This invitation divided the people. Some thought He might be the prophet foretold by Moses (Deut. 18:15, 18). Perhaps they thought this because He claimed to be able to give living water. Just as Moses gave manna, Jesus had given bread (John 6:11). Moses gave water from the rock, and now Jesus was claiming to give living water. However, there were others who thought He might be the long-awaited Messiah (the Christ). Apparently, they were expecting two different individuals to fulfill both roles.
The crowd was also divided on what to do with Jesus. Some defended Him, but others wanted to arrest Him (vv. 40-44). The crowd’s divided opinion enabled Jesus to continue His ministry without immediate arrest. The temple guards, who had been sent to arrest Him (v. 32), returned to the Jewish council meeting empty-handed (vv. 45-50). Nicodemus, a member of the council, spoke up in Jesus’s defense. Our Law doesn’t let us condemn people before we hear what they have to say. Nicodemus did not feel that the council was giving Jesus an honest hearing. But the rest of the council simply ignored him. They told him if he would search the Scriptures, he would discover that no prophet had ever come out of Galilee (vv. 52-54). It’s unclear, what they meant by this claim, as at least three prophets had indeed come out of Galilee: Jonah, Hosea, and Nahum. The Messiah was to be born into the Davidic family and to be born in Bethlehem. Of course, both of these were true of Jesus, but the crowd refused to accept those facts.
Application
The religious leaders were set in their religious beliefs and were not about to change their minds concerning Christ no matter what He said. I need to be careful that this doesn’t happen in my life. I should be willing to change methods of doing things but not biblical doctrine and principles.
John 7:40– 53 (NET)
40 When they heard these words, some of the crowd began to say, âThis really is the Prophet!â 41 Others said, âThis is the Christ!â But still others said, âNo, for the Christ doesnât come from Galilee, does he? 42 Donât the scriptures say that the Christ is a descendant of David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?â 43 So there was a division in the crowd because of Jesus. 44 Some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45 Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, âWhy didnât you bring him back with you?â 46 The officers replied, âNo one ever spoke like this man!â 47 Then the Pharisees answered, âYou havenât been deceived too, have you? 48 None of the members of the ruling council or the Pharisees have believed in him, have they? 49 But this rabble who do not know the law are accursed!â
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before and who was one of the rulers, said, 51 âOur law doesnât condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?â 52 They replied, âYou arenât from Galilee too, are you? Investigate carefully and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee!â
53 [[ And each one departed to his own house.
Illustration: No Denominations in Heaven
Being much concerned about the rise of denominations in the church, John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, ââŹĹAre there any Presbyterians here?” ââŹĹYes,”, came the answer. Then he asked, ââŹĹAre there any Baptists? Any Episcopalians? Any Methodists?” The answer was Yes! each time. Much distressed, Wesley was then ushered to the gates of Heaven. There he asked the same question and the answer was No! ââŹĹNo?” To this Wesley asked, ââŹĹWho then is inside?” The answer came back, ââŹĹThere are only Christians here.” (1 Cor. 1:10-17) (Source unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).