John 7: 40-52….Why didn’t they check the facts?

When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Comment: Jesus’ announcement seems to have made a considerable number believe that He was the Christ or the the forerunner of the Christ. The officers were greatly impressed by Him and refused to arrest Him. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest group of Jewish leaders stood against the remainder of the Leaders stating that before condemning Him, Jesus deserved a fair trial. Jesus grew up in Capernaum, in the Galilee region. The Christ was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem. His birth place could have been easily checked.

Prayer: Decisions make up a large part of life. Help us to choose aright, please Lord.