JOHN 7: 25-36
IS HE THE CHRIST?
The force of Jesus’ argument with the authorities seems to impress many in the audience who are either residents of the city or pilgrims in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Thus a shift in subject springs from Jesus’ last answer. If Jesus’ authority to not only interpret the Sabbath but also to work on the Sabbath (as God does, see ch. 5) indeed comes from God, then Jesus is making a messianic claim. This claim opens the way to a new line of questions concerning His origins — His divine origins. Even the failure of the authorities to stop Jesus lends intrigue to the crowd’s observations. Perhaps the authorities are reluctant to interfere due to some of them secretly believing He is the Christ? Is He the Christ?
I. MESSIANIC CLAIMS, 25-30.
II. SEVERE DIVISION, 31-32.
III. TO FOLLOW HIM OR NOT, 33-36.
The people were confused about the conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities. The crowed of pilgrims seeks further answers to the conflict in verse 25. So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill?
The people knew the dominating, ruthless, manipulating authority of the Jewish leaders in their society. They knew the Pharisees would not mess around nor put up with anyone who upset the status quo, who challenged their right to control. Any one who publicly opposed them and their traditions so openly was doomed. They knew the outcome of Jesus’ bold words should be His death. It is possible also that some knew of an actual plot to kill Jesus though they were not involved in it.
Since the religious authorities controlled the merchandising area of the temple court where Jesus was teaching the people reach a possible conclusion in verse 26. “Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they?
Jesus’ teaching in the power of the Spirit made a favorable impression on the crowd. Some of them actually wondered whether the rulers failure to arrest Him was because they recognized His claims to be the Christ were true. [The question expects an affirmative answer.] This leads to a discussion of His origins.
Three commonly held beliefs are discussed in the following verses. The first is mentioned in verse 27. “However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.”
In a culture without surnames, the place of origin was a means of personal identification. “Jesus son of Joseph” or “Jesus of Nazareth” (1:45) or “Joseph of Arimathea” (19:38) are typical identifiers. Once again the misunderstanding of the crowd is displayed by their question. The crowd is examining Jesus on an earthly level and think that since they can trace Jesus’ human origins, He is disqualified from messianic status.
There was a popular tradition that the Messiah would simply appear supernaturally or come out of a hidden place suddenly, mysteriously and Jesus did not pass it. For these Jews, Jesus’ commonplace appearance disqualified Him completely. But those of this tradition were ignoring the Scriptures that clearly predicted the Messiah’s birth (Isa. 7:14) and birthplace (Micah 5:2).
Jesus leaves the questions of His origin unanswered and in verse 28 goes on to make another astounding claim. Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
There is irony here in the statement so you think you know Me and My origin. While there is a sense in which that is true, He came from Nazareth, in the a far more importance sense they do not.
He has come from God and knows Him with an unparalleled intimacy (Mt. 11:27; Lk. 10:22). This is paramount to a divine claim that breaks with all of the precepts of Judaism. A Messiah might be powerfully sent by God, but Jesus is claiming to know God and be something of a personal liaison or confidant — a Son! — who now has authority not just because of His unequaled wisdom but also by virtue of His divine origins. The Father’s power rests not simply what He does but in who Jesus is. As in chapter 5, Jesus says again that the Jews’ inability to comprehend this reality is evidence of their ignorance about God Himself (7:28; cf. 5:42). If they knew God they would recognize they Son.
Those searching for the way to know God must hear verse 29. “I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
The I’s are emphatic. The claim is simple, straight forward, and possessed with unimaginable glory. No one truly knows the Father but His Son with whom the Father shares His deity (or divinity) and purpose. As Jesus claimed His teaching came directly from the Father so now He claims His mission comes directly from the Father.
Christ’s claim had a conflicting effect on people. In verse 30 we read the effect of His claim on His enemies. So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
Some in the crowd try to arrest Him for making divine claims, but their efforts are frustrated. Jesus is sovereign over His life and will choose when His time has come (10:17–18; 18:6–8; Lk. 22:53). Luke records a similar attempt at the start of Jesus’ ministry in Nazareth, when Jesus could not be apprehended (Lk. 4:29–30). Jesus is now waiting for the coming of Passover in the spring, when His arrest and death will have rich and important theological meaning.
II. SEVERE DIVISION, 31-32.
The episode with the crowd comes to a dramatic climax with a division within their ranks. Verse 31 tells of the faith His claim of divine origins and purpose evoked. But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”
Again we see the division caused by Jesus throughout the Gospels. Many express openness to Jesus while others either deny Him or attempt to inflict harm (7:12, 32, 44).
The reason for the faith of many is not a profound one. They could not conceive that when the Christ came He would do more signs. Their question expects a no He would not answer. There is never negative statement about those who believe because of miracles. It is better to believe on the basis of miracles that not to believe at all.
The Pharisees now take action and enlist the temple police in verse 32 in another attempt to seize Jesus. The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him.
The crowd muttered in a low voice about Jesus and what He had said. The Pharisees’ dominating opinion didn’t not permit the people to speak favorably in public about Jesus. The favorable reaction by the crowd prompted the pharisees to action. The religious leadership in Jerusalem was vehemently opposed to Jesus and willing to employ any resources at its disposal to dispense with Him.
III. TO FOLLOW HIM OR NOT, 33-36.
This section, beginning with verse 33, refers to Jesus returning to heaven. Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me.
(34) “You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”
Jesus knew that His time on earth was drawing to a close. So He spoke of His coming death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. There is a sharp contrast between the I and the you. The declaration that they would not be able to follow Him excited His opponents.
The reasoning of “the Jews” who oppose Jesus is given in verse 35. The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He?
The leaders failed to grasp Jesus’ meaning again. The only place these Jews would not go is among the Gentiles (the Greeks), so they speculate that Jesus is simply leaving Israel. But Jesus is talking about where they cannot go: heaven. His departure will be a return to God. They refused to follow Him on earth so they couldn’t follow Him to heaven.
The repeating of Jesus’ pronouncement in verse 36 reveals that it is the separation of sin that will make it impossible for these Jews to follow Him. “What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”
The saying and its implication puzzled them greatly. They knew there was important meaning in it that they could not grasp.
The rebellious crowd could not follow Jesus because they were ignorant of His identity and rebellious against His purpose. Up to this point, Jesus has been at work in the world, searching for those who believe. Once He departs, God’s fullest revelation is withdrawn. They will search for deliverance and salvation, trying to find what they have tragically opposed and missed.
CONCLUSION / TIME OF RESPONSE
Jesus’ ministry demanded an allegiance to Him by believing what He said. Many were hanging on to their own understanding or the understanding of the elders instead of being willing to trust the convicting, teaching, and leading of the Spirit of God. A heated division over whether to follow Jesus or not occurred.
We too must make up our mind about Jesus. If we do not chose to follow Him and His life challenging teaching, then where He leads we will not be able to go either. That may suit us well on earth but it will not suit us well when it is time to go into eternity.
