25 So 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 openly, and they are saying nothing to Him. Do the rulers truly know that this is the Christ? 27 However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus 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 So they were seeking to seize Him; yet no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than this man did?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. 33 Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? Is He intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were going to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7: 25-39 LSB
John 7: 25-39
Some of the people of Jerusalem were saying - These were people who remembered Him from His last visit. Note, people of Jerusalem, and this takes us back to the 5th chapter.
…17But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.” 18 Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 19So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.… John 5: 17-19
V. 25b Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill - Yet just a little while ago, in this same chapter, some were saying He had a demon for even suggesting this. Looking at John 5 though, and knowing about His turning over the tables of the money changers, interrupting the crooked practices of the religious mafia, we start to see that this has gone on for quite sometime, and here we have people attesting to as much. He had definitely made the right people angry, people whose bottom lines were affected.
11The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” 12Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 13And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”… Matthew 21: 11-13
V. 26 Do the rulers truly know that this is the Christ - This is the guy they want to kill, right? If that's the case then why haven't they arrested Him? He still speaks openly and yet no one is confronting Him about it; if He is not the Messiah, if they believe Him to be in the wrong, then aren't they morally obligated to shut Him up? Is it possible that they secretly know something that they are not letting on about? The people are confused, and waiting for some of the religious leaders to say, "yes, that is the guy, Jesus is the Messiah', or 'this Man is a heretic Who needs to be arrested." They have apparently quit questioning Him because He takes them to school every time, and they fear going after Him because so many think that He is a prophet, but it is really just not God's time.
…9I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know. 10I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly. 11O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.… Psalm 40: 9-11
…29All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John. 30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. 31“To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like?… Luke 7: 29-31
V. 27 But whenever the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from - They always go back to the same ill worked reasoning:
1. You are from Nazareth, and we know that Messiah is of the house of David, from Bethlehem. This could have been resolved easily because of Jewish record and also Roman taxation. Did they really look so deeply into it? If they had, they would have found that both Mary and Joseph were of the house of David, that they went to Bethlehem to pay the census tax, and Jesus was born there at that time.
2. We know your parents, You say you are from heaven, but we know you to be the carpenter's Son, again, read above. Go find His parents and ask them. Read the OT, He would be born of a virgin. He was Joseph's step son.
3. Bad eschatology, and it is rampant in every age, but they have a tradition based on a misinterpretation of Malachi 3:1 where they believe that Messiah will appear in dramatic fashion, but also that He will appear in order to rescue them from their oppressors, not from their sin. Most people would be happy with a Messiah like that, and every type of antichrist promises as much. They all, we all, before we are born again, want to be saved from the consequences of our sin, from hell, but not from sin itself. We are quite comfortable with many things that God abhors.
However (alla - term of contrast), we know where this man is from - NLT = "But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from" MIT = "But we are cognizant of this man's origin" The Jerusalemites think they know, but they do not really know. What did they know? They knew that our Lord was from Nazareth of Galilee (cf Jn 1:45, Jn 6:42). This is the general thought of all the Jews, for even when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, just before his crucifixion, the multitude said, “This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” (Mt 21:11.) And when an inscription was put over His head on the cross, in the letters of the three languages, it was, “Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews.” (Jn 19:19 Mt. 13:55; Mk 6:3; Lk 4:22.) And so later in this chapter we see that the multitude did not even know Jesus was originally from Bethlehem (although the leaders did)! They think that He was a carpenter from Nazareth in Galilee. MacArthur rightly points out that "this is constantly where they found their safe zone in rejecting Jesus. They didn’t want to accept Jesus.....They always fell back to the fact that He can’t be the Messiah because we know where He came from. We know about Him.....All they were looking for was justification for their rejection because He didn’t fit their pattern....They misinterpreted both of those passages (Mal 3:1, Isa 53), and came up with a popular notion that the Messiah would have some kind of supernatural arrival at the temple, and not in the normal way, and they wouldn’t know anything about His family." And so they concluded Jesus could not be the Messiah they were expecting. - Precept Austin
V. 28 You both know Me and know where I am from - There may be a tinge of sarcasm here, but it is also quite damning because He is not a stranger, and the way they satisfy their doubts is so speculative and sophomoric. You do know Him, so you don't have far to look to find His mom, to interview her, you have witnessed His life, so what about that seems unfitting? Did He not grow in favor with God and man? You have all the OT writings, so how does He compare? But then He shoves a great dagger into their egos at the end of v. 28, because they all think they know the God of Abraham, the God of the coming Messiah, but He says they don't know Him. This is the great difficulty; how will they recognize Him when they don't even know the One they claim to know, the One Who sent Him?
…3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.… Luke 2: 3-5
NET Note on You both know me and know where I am from - Jesus' response while teaching in the temple is difficult - it appears to concede too much understanding to his opponents. It is best to take the words as irony: "So you know me and know where I am from, do you?" On the physical, literal level, they did know where he was from: Nazareth of Galilee (at least they thought they knew). But on another deeper (spiritual) level, they did not: He came from heaven, from the Father. Jesus insisted that He has not come on His own initiative (cf. John 5:37), but at the bidding of the Father Who sent Him. - Precept Austin
1Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. 3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.… Isaiah 53: 1-3
V. 29 I know Him - He still claims to be from God, that God the Father sent Him. He is relentless in this.
…17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. 19And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”… John 1: 17-19
V. 30 Because His hour had not yet come - Do you see that, they want to get Him, they want to kill Him, but nothing can happen outside of God's permission. Trust Him. They are willing, but it is not happening, just like when others wanted to stone Him but He disappeared through the crowd.
Ryle - Just as on a former occasion, they saw, in His “calling God His Father,” that He “made Himself equal with God,” (John 5:18,) so here in His saying “I am from Him: He hath sent me,” they saw an assertion of His right to be received as Messiah. (John 7 Commentary)
They were seeking (zeteo) to seize (arrest - piazo) Him - They in context is not the religious leaders, but the Jerusalemites who had been listening and now had heard enough of what they interpret as overt blasphemy (claiming He was God). To reiterate, since there is no change in subject indicated, this almost certainly is the aroused Jerusalemites, not the rulers. Furthermore, this conclusion is supported by the fact that Jn 7:32 notes the Jewish rulers sent officers to seize Jesus. Seeking is in the imperfect tense signifying again and again, depicting them as looking for a perfect moment. They tried again and again to arrest Him but they did not want to cause a riot among the pilgrims who believed Him to be the Messiah. Seize (piazo) is a keyword in John 7 (Jn. 7:32; Jn. 7:44), clearly indicative of the beginning of the end which would culminate in the Cross. - Precept Austin
V. 31 When the Christ comes will He do more signs than this man did - Good question, He has performed miracles exceeding all of His prophets, knows the Word beyond the comprehension of any mortal, above every and any theologian to come. It seems like there is a remnant even here in this mostly hostile crowd, those being drawn by the Father. There is also the possibility that they are like those from John 2 that believed because of the signs and wonders, but were superficial followers.
…23While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name. 24But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. 25He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.… John 2: 23-25
…25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2: 25-26
V. 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things - Superficial or not, they don't know, we don't know in every case, but the religious leaders had already decided they don't want Jesus, and they need to stop this before it gets out of hand. They want control over the people, much like the Roman Catholic Church, and there are other things to consider, if the crowd really wants this Jesus but Jesus doesn't recognize the leaders the way they see themselves then they will lose even more power. He is actually an enemy in their minds, I dare say, even more so than Rome.
V. 34 Where I am you cannot come - This is horribly sad, they want a Messiah, the Messiah is here, they fail to recognize Him, and He is going somewhere that they will not be allowed to enter.
…5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them. 6They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them. 7They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.… Hosea 5: 5-7
…43For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will level you to the ground— you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” 45Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling there.… Luke 19: 43-45
You cannot come - Cannot is two words "ou" the strongest negative in Greek and dunamai, which means to be able. Jesus' point is that they (if they remained unbelieving) would absolutely not have the supernatural enablement to come to where He was! In Jn 8:21+ Jesus added you "will die in your sin." They cannot come because they are sinners, natural men who have not been born again which is the necessary prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of Heaven (Jn 3:3+).
William Hendriksen - He means this: “I am going to the Father; but you have rejected the Father by rejecting me. Hence, where I am you cannot come.” In the presence of the Father there is no room for those who have refused to accept the Son. The warning implied in these words is, of course, very clear. It is the warning of Ps. 95:8–11. (BORROW Exposition of the Gospel according to John) - Precept Austin
V. 35 The Dispersion among the Greeks - It's funny, they speculate, but always in a materialist sort of fashion. It's as though they refuse to ask Him the right questions. They seem to be happy with the most shallow understanding of everything, whatever comes into their minds at the time. How is it that you have come to write Christ off?
Andreas Kostenberger notes that "Jews had been living outside Palestine ever since the Babylonian exile. When they were allowed to return from exile, some went back, but many did not. In later years, many cities boasted a considerable Jewish population, including Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome. (See John - Page 239) - Precept Austin
V. 37 If anyone is thirsty - That's a thirst that has to be given to us. Faith is a gift, and we must be granted repentance, a heart that burns with new desires, hungers for the Word, and wants to obey. The call goes out, who wants to be relieved of the burden of their sin, only those who have been given the gift of conviction.
…27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. 28Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.… Matthew 11: 27-29
V. 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit - The divine work of regeneration in the heart of believers.
…25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.… Ezekiel 36: 25-27
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