“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?” John 7.25-31
It doesn’t take long for things to heat up for Jesus. With what he is saying, and the impact that he is making throughout the nation of Israel, dissension is bound to come.
And so trouble comes for Jesus by humans who spread gossip and lies about him as they say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? Have they concluded that he is the Messiah?” And, “We know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” Which was a a lie. (See Micah 5.2, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”)
But Jesus doesn’t let these lies go unanswered. He cries out from the crowd, “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.” After Jesus said this the crowds try to seize him by force because he calls them out for not knowing God and for not believing in the one who God sent. Yet no one laid on hand on him, the Scriptures says, because his time at not yet come. And we think we have difficulties! However, some in the crowd still believed in him and said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”
The fact is that dissension always followed Jesus along with hardships, persecution and disagreements. Because what Jesus says is true, and humans are sinful and the devil is real, his words and his people will be under attack. Personally, I have felt this in my own life. Going about my business, serving the Lord, proclaiming his name, loving his kids and being attacked by the enemy.
But God is greater than all my sin and the one who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4.4). God has the final say, the devil doesn’t have the final say. Just as God gave Jesus the victory over sin, death, human and demonic opposition, so God will give those victory to those who cling to his word and claim the blood of Jesus every moment of every day.
“O Lord God, you are good. Thank you for loving me and for allowing me to be your hands and feet, heart and soul. Help me have the mind of Christ that I might be transformed into the person you have called me to be. Remind me to put on the full armor of God so that I might be able to withstand the flaming arrows of the evil one. For you are exalted above the heavens and you are God above all other Gods. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen
