John
7:40-53 “A Division among the People”
Introduction: The people in this text are divided. They fall into clearly defined groups. From this text we shall see that there are
three groups of people when it comes to what men believe about Jesus. The groups are as follows:
1. Those
who believe Jesus is a good man come from God, a prophet and nothing more.
2. Those
who believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, the Savior of men and God in
human flesh.
3. Those who believe Jesus is a deceiver and his
works are of the devil.
These three groups of people are
defined further by three words, “many”, “other”, and “some.” “Many” indicates the majority. “Others” indicate the larger of the two
remaining groups and “some” indicates the minority.
I. The Majority believe that Jesus is no more than a good man.
(John
7:40) Many of the people
therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a
truth this is the Prophet.
In verse 40 we have the majority of
the people saying that Jesus is the Prophet.
The Prophet of whom they refer is the one mentioned in Deuteronomy. (Deuteronomy
18:15) The LORD thy God will raise up
unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto
him ye shall hearken;
These
people who are described in verse 49 by their spiritual leaders as ones who do
not know the Law have indeed shown their improper interpretation of the
scriptures. They believed that Moses was
speaking of a man who would come as a prophet to be the forerunner of the
Messiah. Many thought that this would be
Elijah come to life again. These men
believed Jesus was a good man, come from God as a prophet but nothing more than
this.
Most people today believe that Jesus
was a good man and nothing more. They
believe that He was a philosopher and a teacher of good moral values. They reject the idea of Jesus being God
Himself dwelling in human flesh. Do a
survey of people that you come in contact with and see what they say about
Jesus. If the majority
say that He is God then you are keeping good company indeed. If they see Jesus as only a man then, in this
respect, times have not changed since Jesus’ day.
Like those of Jesus’ day this view
point is based upon a misinterpretation of the scriptures. Men accept the Bible as a moral standard and
by its guidelines have decided that Jesus is a good man. They do not accept the virgin birth of Jesus
and do not interpret the scriptures as prophetic. These often do not accept the inerrancy of
scriptures. They do not study the
scriptures and generally have a closed mind and thus will not accept the truth.
II. The larger minority
group believes that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God.
(John 7:41a) Others said, This
is the Christ….
Thank God that there are some who
believe the truth. These have seen the
same scriptures as the majority and have seen the same works done by Jesus and
have concluded based upon the evidence that Jesus is the Savior of men. In that day and time men ran the risk of
being ostracized by the establishment for believing the truth about Jesus. These will later be persecuted and forced to
flee their homes because of their belief that Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus fulfilled all the Old
Testament prophecies concerning the Christ.
He died for our sins according to the scriptures and was buried and rose
again the third day according to the scriptures. The evidence is overwhelming that proves
Jesus to be the Christ.
The
following things were prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled by Jesus:
1a. The time of His coming.
Dan 9:26, Matt 2:7
1. Born of
the seed of the woman. Gen 3:15, Gal 4:4, Matt
2. Born of
a virgin. Isaiah
3. Son of
God. Psalms 2:7, Matt
4. Seed of
Abraham. Gen 12:2-3, Matt 1:1
5. Son of
Isaac. Gen 21:12, Luke 3:23,34
6. Son of
Jacob. Num 24:17, Luke 3:23,34
7. Tribe
of
8. Family
line of Jesse. Isaiah 11:1, Luke 3:23,32
9. House
of David. Jer. 23:5, Luke 3:23,31
10. Born
at
11.
Presented with gifts. Psa 72:10, Matt 2:1,11
12. Herod kill children. Jer. 31:15, Matt
13. His
pre-existence. Micah 5:2,
14. He
shall be called Lord. Psa 110:1, Luke 2:11
15. Shall
be Emanuel. Isaiah
16. Shall
be a prophet. Deu
17.
Priest. Psa 110:4, Heb. 3:1
18. Judge.
Isaiah 33:22, John 5:30
19. King.
Psalms 2:6, Matt 27:37
20.
Special Anointing of the Holy Spirit. Isa 11:2, Matt
21. His
zeal for God. Psa 69:9, John 2:15-17
22. Preceded by a messenger. Isaiah 40:3, Matt
3:1-2
23.
Ministry to begin in
24. Work
miracles. Isa 35:5-6, Matt
25.
Teacher of parables. Psa
78:2, Matt
26. He was
to enter the
27. Enter
28. Stone
of stumbling to the Jews. Psa 118:22, 1Pet 2:7
29. Light
to the Gentiles. Isa 60:3, Acts
30.
Resurrection. Psa
31.
Ascension. Psaa
68:18, Acts 1:9
32. Seated
at the right hand of God. Psa 110:1, Heb 1:3
33.
Betrayed by a friend. Psa 41:9, Matt 10:4
34. Sold
for 30 pieces of silver. Zech 11:12, Matt 26:15
35. Money
to be thrown in God’s house. Zech 11:12, Matt 26:15
36. Price
given for Potter’s field. Zech 11:13, Matt 27:7
37.
Forsaken by His disciples. Zech 13:7, Mark
38.
Accused by false witnesses. Psa 35:11, Matt 26:59-61
39. Dumb
before His accusers. Isa 53:7, Matt 27:12-19
40.
Wounded and bruised. Isa 53:5, Matt 27:26
41.
Smitten and spit upon. Isa 50:6, Matt 26:67
42.
Mocked. Psa 22:7-8, Matt 27:31
43. Fell
under the cross. Psa 109: 24-25, John 19:17, Luke
23:26
44. Hands
and feet pierced. Psa
22:16, Luke 23:33
45.
Crucified with thieves. Isa 53:12, Matt 27:38
46. Made
intercession for His persecutors. Isa 53:12, Luke 23:34
47.
Rejected by His own people. Isa
53:12, Luke 23:34
48. Hated
without a cause. psa 69:4,
John 15:25
49.
Friends stood afar off. Psa 38:11, Luke 23:49
50. People
shook their heads. Psa 109:25, Matt 27:39
51. Stared
upon. Psa 22:17, Luke 23:35
52.
Garments Parted and lots cast. Psa 22:18, John 19:23-24
53. He
would suffer thirst. Psa 69:21, John 19:28
54. Gall
and vinegar offered Him. Psa 69:21, Matt 27:34
55. His
forsaken cry. Psa 22:1, Matt 27:46
56.
Committed Himself to God. Psa 31:5, Luke 23:46
57. Bones
not broken. Psa 34:20, John 19:33
58. Heart
broken. Psa 22:14, John 19:34
59. His
side pierced. Zech 12:10, John 19:34
60.
Darkness over the land. Amos 8:9, Matt 27:45
61. Buried
in a rich man’s tomb. Isa 53:9, Matt 27:57-60
With all of this evidence one must
return a verdict of YES, Jesus is the Christ, the savior of men.
III. The smaller
minority group believes that Jesus is a deceiver.
(John
7:41b) …But some
said, Shall Christ come out of
(John
7:42) Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of
the town of
Some refuse to believe the
truth. They reject the true teachings of
the scriptures. Had they wanted to, they
could have known that Jesus was born in
IV. The division among
the people.
(John
7:43) So there was a division among the
people because of him. 44) And some of them would have taken him; but no
man laid hands on him.
Today there is still a division
among the people. Many believe Jesus is
the Christ and have accepted Him as their savior. Others believe and teach that Jesus is a man come from God but no more. Some today reject Jesus completely and say He
is a trouble maker and a deceiver.
What others believe about Jesus has
no effect upon my relationship with God.
What I believe about Jesus is of utmost importance. I believe Jesus Christ is the savior of
men. He is the Son of God. He is a part of the God Head. He is God.
He has offered pardon from the penalty of sin which is death and
condemnation. I have accepted His offer
of eternal life. I accepted it by
confessing my sinful condition to Him and begging for His forgiveness and
asking Him to have mercy upon me and save my soul. I believe He keeps His promises. I believe when He said “whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
I trusted in Him and He saved my soul.
V. The Officers return.
(John
7:45) Then came the officers to the
chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought
him?
(John
7:46) The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
The very words of Jesus were so
profound that men were amazed by them.
The officers who had been sent to arrest Jesus were overwhelmed by His
words. He spake with such knowledge and
authority, that they could not raise their hands against Him. These men feared the people for most thought
Jesus to be a prophet and others went as far as to say that He was the
Christ. With these two groups making up
the vast majority of the crowd these men would have been in great danger had
they tried to arrest Jesus.
They responded to the question as to
why they had not obeyed their orders by replying “Never man spake like this
man.” They may have feared that if this
was Elijah come to life again that he might call down fire to consume the
captain of fifty and his fifty.
VI. The Officers
rebuked.
(John 7:47) Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also
deceived? 48) Have any of the rulers or
of the Pharisees believed on him? 49)
But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
The Pharisees rebuked these men by
accusing them of believing a lie. These
officers lacked the courage to follow through with their assignment. They are, however, not to be blamed for the
time was not yet right for Jesus to be arrested. No man alive will take Jesus before God the
Father is ready. The people who the
leaders accuse of being ignorant of the Law are not as ignorant as these men
believe. They at least recognize good
works and good words when they see and hear them. The works of Jesus testify who he is. The words of Jesus are in complete harmony
with the Old Testament prophets. The
teachings of Jesus are in complete harmony with the Law of Moses. People who know not the Law are cursed
indeed. What these leaders need to
realize is that they are the ones who know not the Law!
VII. Nicodemus speaks
up.
(John
7:50) Nicodemus saith unto them, (he
that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 51) Doth our law judge [any] man, before it hear
him, and know what he doeth?
Nicodemus was a ruler of the
Jews. He had come to Jesus by night and
had been saved. He was a secret
disciple. He told no one that he was
saved and a believer in Jesus. He almost
lets the secret out in these verses for he can contain himself no longer. These men are speaking against the very one
who can save. These rulers have not been
fair in their treatment of Jesus. They
had not given Him a chance to be formally accused and evidence gathered and
presented according to the Law.
VIII. The lack of Bible
knowledge.
(John
7:52) They answered and said unto him,
Art thou also of
There is but one thing to say
here. (Isaiah 9:1) Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be]
such as [was] in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land
of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict
[her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2) The people that walked in darkness have seen
a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them
hath the light shined.
(Isaiah 9:6)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace. 7) Of the increase of
[his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David,
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with
justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this.
Jesus’ question so often asked “Have
ye never read?” speaks to the ignorance of men.
There is little hope for those who refuse to open their minds to the
truth of the scriptures.
IX. Unresolved
division.
(John
7:53) And every man went unto his own house.
Every man, un-persuaded by the
arguments of his fellow man, returned to his own house firm in his own
belief. Those who believe Jesus is just
a good man still think Jesus to be just a good man. Those who went to there homes believing Jesus
to be the Christ went home convinced that He was their savior. Those who went to their homes believing that
Jesus was a deceiver and his works and words were of the devil went home with a
heart full of hatred for Jesus.
Home is the place
were you permanently dwell. My
home on this earth is but for a short time.
(Ecclesiastes 12:5) Also [when]
they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and
fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the
grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his
long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
We are headed for a permanent
dwelling. Those who believe that Jesus
is the Christ and accept His offer of salvation enter their permanent dwelling
through a narrow gate. It is narrow
because few there be that find it. They find a home with God. A place of absolute bliss.
Those, who believe that Jesus is no
more than a good man, a prophet and nothing more, will enter their permanent
dwelling place through a wide gate. It
is a wide gate because many there be that go in there
at. There permanent dwelling is a place
of torments in fire forever separated from God.
Many of these will be surprised in the day they enter their permanent dwelling.
(Matthew
7:21) Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven. 22)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23) And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Those who believe that Jesus is a
deceiver will enter into their permanent home through a wide gate also. It is wide because there are many who go in
there at. There home is a place of
torments for it shall be more tolerable for
Forever is a long, long, time. What group in this division you belong to
will make all the difference in the world to you when you stand before God in
Judgment.