Is Jesus The Messiah?
IS JESUS THE MESSIAH?
JOHN 7:25-36
People couldn’t remain neutral with Jesus and his teaching. Some were confused; some opposed him; some believed in him.
From the more superficial questions which have been raised, the discussion passes to the question of who Jesus really is. Some know him only as a wanted man and, when they find him teaching without being arrested, they wonder if the authorities have decided that he is after all the Messiah. This solution, however, seems to be ruled out by the fact that they know his origin. Jesus retorts that that is precisely what they do not know. His true origin is from his Father and it is for that reason that he comes with the authority of his Father.
The Jewish leaders decide that after all they must try and arrest him but Jesus is protected by the fact that it is not yet his hour. Many of the people are sufficiently impressed by the number of his miracles to believe that he is the Christ after all. What more could be expected of the Messiah (7:31)? Their estimate of Christ was shallow, with little understanding of his person and nature. But it was at least a movement towards truth.
The authorities accordingly make another attempt to arrest him. But they cannot stop his ministry. For Jesus is confident not only of his origin but also of his destination and of his time. His destination is one that is out of reach of the unbelieving Jews. They think that the barrier is a geographical one and fail to see that it is a spiritual one.
Notes 7:26: despite his having visited Jerusalem privately, he teaches, as always, openly (18:20). Phillips: “Surely our rulers haven’t decided that this really is Christ!” 7:27: they cannot believe he is the Messiah because they knew where he came from (cf. 6:42; 7:41f.). They did not know about his birth at Bethlehem, which is not mentioned in the Gospel. Others did not believe because they did not know where he came from (9:29; 19:9)! It is amazing what excuses unbelief can find. 7:28: “You know me, and you know where I come from?” The question mark brings out the irony. 7:35: “the Greeks,” this need not mean the Gentiles. It could be a term used by the “Jews” (Palestinian Jews) about the Jews of the Dispersion (cf. 12:20). It was inconceivable that the Messiah would go where they (the Jews who actually lived in the Promised Land) could not find him. Our ecclesiastical pride can be as great.