Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”
The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
Comment: The crowd on this important feast day would have been huge. Every Jew who could have come would have been there. Some, but a small percentage of the crowd, would have heard a lot or at least some of Jesus’ teaching. As they wandered and met acquaintances Jesus was a ‘hot’ topic. i) If they want to kill Him, why don’t they? ii) Was He born where prophesied? iii) Don’t His miracles prove that He is the Christ? iv) Many ‘believed’ that He was the Christ.
At last the leaders had had enough and sent their men to bring Jesus to them. He was to be arrested.
Prayer: Your book tells us that ‘Man decides, but You have Your Way’. Help me to rest in Your Supremacy, O Lord, even when it all seems hopeless.
As I read it! 