John 7:25-53

The inactivity of the Jewish leaders causes some people to wonder if they know that Jesus is the Messiah. This passage shows us more of the confusion that Jesus teaching is creating. His listeners think they know where he is from i.e. Nazareth They don’t know he was born in Bethlehem and is of the line of David. Jesus on the other hand says that what matters is that he comes from and knows the Father. This would have sounded like blasphemy, but the leaders are unable to arrest him. John says this is because it is not yet the right time, the time of his death and resurrection is still to arrive.

Many of the crowd and the temple guard persuaded by his words and the miracles, much to the annoyance of the rulers and the Pharisees, with only Nicodemus speaking up for justice. In teaching that is reminiscent of the conversation with the Samaritan woman (ch 4) Jesus offers his listeners the water of the spirit that would flow from inside them. During the Feast of Tabernacles water would be poured over the altar every day for seven days, but this is not the water that will lead to life.

Whenever the gospel is preached people respond in different ways. Some just refuse it, some are interested but not serious, some get distracted by life and some sincerely pursue the Lord. It was no different during Jesus’ ministry. He didn’t always make it easy to understand, you had to seek after the truth. Now, as then, let us be seekers of God’s truth.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.