Friday, October 11, 2013

Jesus Causes Division


40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. 45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” (John 7:40-52 (ESV)
Jesus causes a division. Those who refuse to believe in Jesus will always separate themselves from those who do. The chief priests and Pharisees are upset that the officers haven’t brought Jesus to them. Even the officers, the temple watch, Roman soldiers, are taken in by the power and authority in Jesus speech. Yet the Pharisees will not budge. They began their arguments against Jesus arguing that he can’t be the messiah because no one would know where the messiah comes from. Now they are arguing that they know the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and Jesus is from Galilee. In other words they are looking for reason not to believe. Nicodemus tries to bring reason to the table but he is shot down. They declare the whole crowd that is listening to Jesus as accursed, claiming they do not know the law. The Pharisees try to claim no prophet arises from Galilee. But there was a prophet that came from Galilee, Jonah. And when the Pharisees finally have their way, Jesus will emulate him and give them the sign of Jonah. Three days in the belly of death, and on the third day death will spit him out being conquered forever.

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