seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 7:25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”
28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”
30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”
35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[c] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”
41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”
Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
c. John 7:38 Or me. And let anyone drink 38 who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.
They couldn't get over the fact they knew Him. He was a carpenter's son. His mother was Mary. He grew up in Nazareth. He was just like them... a human... one of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [the one God renamed Israel]. They knew Him as the guy next door.
In order to really get a grip about what is going on here.... I need to reset the page. Jesus is teaching in the Temple. Everyone is amazed because He teaches everything perfectly. That carpenter's son knows the scriptures better than the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees and Sadducees were sure they would be the first to be introduced to the real Messiah. They were sure God would inform His priests when the new King of Kings is on earth. Since they didn't get their engraved announcements... they were absolutely positive that Jesus was not the Messiah.
There were some in the crowd who believed Jesus was the Messiah. There were some in the crowd who were followers. I figure not all of the people who Believed in Jesus, left their homes and families to follow Him around. Instead they went back home and went back to work. As they went back to their lives... they told people about what they saw or what they heard.... and others believed because of what these "followers" said.
Jesus told the crowds that He was only there for a little while and then He was going back to His Father's house [Heaven]. The Pharisees, Sadducees and the other temple leaders were tied to earthly comparisons. When Jesus said He was going away... He meant they were going to hang Him on a Cross and then they were going to put Him in a tomb... and when they would go back to embalm Him... He would be gone.... but they didn't get it.
I'm a human.... unless I train my brain to see it... I'm going to miss a lot of heavenly stuff. Unless I enjoy watching that bunny that comes around my garage every afternoon.... I'm going to miss that little miracle. Those Pharisees and Sadducees were looking at the Miracle of the Messiah.... and they couldn't see it. They hadn't received their engraved announcement from God so they didn't believe Him. BUT.... they didn't really believe in God either... they were not appointed by God... they were pawns of the Roman Government.... so they didn't recognize their Messiah when He was right there in the Temple with them.
Jesus made statements they just did not understand. They knew Him as the son of a Nazarene carpenter. They were looking for a king born in Bethlehem.... they were ignoring the alignment of the planets that lit up the sky like it was noon.... and the legion of angels who told the shepherds just where to find the Son. They were looking for a king born in Bethlehem.... but they forgot that everyone had to go back to their home towns for a census.... which would have put Joseph in Bethlehem with his pregnant wife.... so she could give birth in a stable. A king... born in a stable... that fact would totally be dispelled by these uppity priests. They forgot that Herod was visited by three wise men... scientists who studied the planets... who told Herod the Messiah was on earth. Those Pharisees and Sadducees ignored the fact that the news shook Herod so.... he ordered the mass murder of all babies newborn to three years old. They didn't know that Mary and Joseph had been in Egypt while the mass murder was going on. Those Pharisees and Sadducees were not interested in such matters. In their big heads they figured they "deserved" to receive a written announcement if they were to meet with the Messiah.
There were people in the crowd that believed. I wonder... did they sound incredulous when they said "Hey, hasn't He performed enough miracles to get your attention?"
Jesus said.. [paraphrased].... "I'm here now.... teaching... I'm only going to be here a little while. Join now... while it's easy.... soon you won't be able to find me. Soon you'll look for me and I won't be there."
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were such big heads.... they figured they could find Him if they wanted to.... where was He going to go... Greece.... there were descendants of Jacob [Israel] too. They thought they controlled every thing and every one.... so who was this guy to say He could hide from them.
They thought they were the chosen people. They thought God was tied to them because they are "chosen". I bet they thought they could pound on the pulpit and call down miracles. I bet they thought they could make God do their bidding.... because He "chose" them.
I am reminded of a song by Charlie Daniels.... in this song... He's singing to his lost love... a girl who wouldn't have anything to do with him because he is just a musician.... and then he made it big... and he says "how do you like me now... now that I'm no my way..... bet you don't think I'm crazy... seeing me here today.... how do you like me now".
I figure Jesus is doing a Charlie Daniels..... "I'm here.... love me while you can.... cause soon... I'll me gone again..... where you can't find me..... "
I figure those Pharisees and those Sadducees were saying...." just who do you think you are.... we are the head of the Temple... you can't hide from us... we're too important.... you're just a carpenter's son from the wrong town."
Yep... they missed all the signs and they never did get the engraved announcement of the birth of the king.... only the shepherds did.... and they were better than a stupid shepherd... they were the leaders of the Temple.... Rome knew who they were.... so since they didn't believe... it just was not so.
