A Polarizing Message
TRANSLATION
(40) When they heard Jesus’ words, some of the people said, “He really is the prophet.” (41) Others said, “He is the Messiah.” But still others said, “Will the Messiah come from Galilee? (42) Don’t the Scriptures say that the Messiah must be a descendent of David and come from Bethlehem, David’s hometown?” (43) So the people were divided because of Jesus. (44) Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him.
(45) The temple guards then returned to the chief priests and Pharisees who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” (46) The temple guards responded, “No one ever spoke like this man.” (47) The Pharisees then said to them, “Have you also been deceived? (48) Have any of the authorities or Pharisees believed in him? (49) But this crowd that doesn’t know the Law is accursed.” (50) Nicodemus who had gone to visit Jesus previously and was one of their number, asked, (50) “Does our Law condemn a man without hearing directly from him to learn what he is doing?” (52) They responded to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and you will find out that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
OBSERVATIONS
Confusion and controversy filled the air in Jerusalem when Jesus laid claim to being Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, a word that occurred three times in two verses (vss. 41 & 42). “Galilee” stood in contrast to “Bethlehem” in these same verses and “Galilee” was repeated twice in verse 52. “David” also occurred twice in quick succession (vs. 42). In the second paragraph, “temple guards” (vss. 45 & 46) and “Pharisees” (vss. 45, 47 & 48) were repeated. One more word was emphasized by repetition, “prophet” (vss. 40 & 52). The entire city was polarized because of Jesus.
OUTLINE
I. Jerusalem was divided over Jesus because most thought he had been born in Galilee. (40-44)
II. The guards sent to arrest Jesus returned empty-handed, captivated by his teaching. (45-52)
IDEA STATEMENT
The life and ministry of the Messiah transformed those whose hearts were enlightened by the Holy Spirit to the consternation of those whose hearts remained hardened.
APPLICATION
We should meditate on the reasoning which the officers who had been sent to arrest Jesus offered to the Jewish leaders as their excuse for their failing to apprehend him: “No one ever spoke like this man!” In essence they were telling their superiors that those who were willing to evaluate the evidence regarding Jesus objectively, particularly the words that he spoke during his earthly ministry, would inevitably be convinced of the truth he embodied.
Rarely are skeptics convinced by logical arguments to enter the Kingdom of God. However, if an open-minded person is willing to read the New Testament or consider the testimonies of those whose lives have been transformed by an encounter with the Savior, the results can be transformative. Knowing that our message is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16) should embolden us to share it with others as we rely on what Paul told the Corinthians: that “our labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).