25 Therefore some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 26 And 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? 27 However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from." 28 Jesus therefore 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. 29 I know Him; because I am from Him, and He sent Me." 30 They were seeking therefore to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 But many of the multitude believed in Him; and they were saying, "When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?"
Message: Speculating About the Christ
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is still in Jerusalem, having arrived there from Capernaum where he also spoke to people in the synagogue and here in Jerusalem he is speaking in the temple (7:14). In many ways this text today is similar to what He said in Capernaum in the synagogue in which He spoke of the Father having sent Him (6:39). In those verses he mentions He is the Bread of Life (6:48) and in believing in Him a person will have eternal life (6:47).
He is in Jerusalem sort of incognito. He has arrived there perhaps a little secretly. He will continue to preach but He also knows that His time has not yet come to die on the cross and John lets us know this as well (7:30).
The difference in these verses is what Jesus says as recorded in verse 28 and 29. First that "He sent Me." He is sent by God the Father. And "I am from Him." I need to remember He is in a different place. While I hear similar words form John 6, Jesus is speaking to a different crowd and perhaps based upon what has been said earlier, a more hostile crowd. There was a hope for the Messiah at this time and for many people they are probably studying Jesus to determine if He is the Christ.
His words to those that are listening are hard words as He tells them that they do not know God. He says in verse 28, "He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know." This must have angered those listening. In the previous verse it is stated that no one should know where the Messiah has come from. This is what they had been taught and so in Jesus they do not believe He is the Messiah. It is interesting to consider where this idea came from as there instances in the Old Testament that speak of Jesus coming from the seed of a woman (Gen. 3:15). John 7:42 mentions that from the Scripture it says Jesus will come out of the seed of David and out of Bethlehem. And yet Isaiah 53:2 refers to a root out of dry ground. Isaiah 7:14 says - "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Many Rabbi's spoke of him not coming from earthly parents or appearing out of the blue, but those were Rabbi's. It seems his origin was varied in ideas. So what Jesus does here is make it clear. He makes it clear that He is from God. He has been sent by God.
There are more speculations that could be considered, but Jesus has already mentioned His authority in other ways, albeit other cities and other settings. We can be confident in Him and only Him. We must be leery of others who claim being sent by God.
Summary: Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem now provides clarity that His origin is from the Father, whom they do not know.
Promise: From Matthew Henry, "This declaration, that they knew not God, with his claim to peculiar knowledge, provoked the hearers; and they sought to take him, but God can tie men's hands, though he does not turn their hearts."
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your origin and speaking with authority and coming from God and the confident that we can have in You as our Savior and Lord, to this day. Open people's eyes to this. Open my family's eyes and those I am in contact with. Help me to bring light of understand to others as You direct me. Be praise.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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