John 7:25-30
 
John 7:25 (KJB)
Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
 
Here we have some of the residents of Jerusalem revealing the fact that there is an actual plot to kill Jesus. It is possible that rewards were being offered for information leading to the location of Jesus. Remember Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver, so remuneration was definitely not out of the picture. The people were confused, the leaders wanted to kill Jesus and all of a sudden He shows up in the temple teaching publicly. It seems these people knew the mindset of their rulers in that they would dispose of anyone that threatened their large income and lavish lifestyle. Would you listen to a preacher expound the Scriptures to you knowing that they have murderous tendencies?
 
John 7:26 (KJB)
But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
 
Lo - To see or perceive, to look to gain attention
Boldly - Frankly, fearlessly, courage
Indeed - Truly, really, or certainly
 
The people were perplexed because on the one hand the word went out that they wanted to kill Jesus and then on the other hand He is in the Temple untouched. What we see here is definitely a question of timing because the time of Jesus to be crucified was not yet. The question then circulated concerning as to whether the rulers truly knew if Jesus was the Messiah. This would have confused the people because if you are looking for someone for the purpose of killing them and then all of a sudden He shows up at the Temple and no one is seizing Him. I am sure this was a great subject of conversation among the people.
 
John 7:27 (KJB)
Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
 
Whence - From what place he comes from or what origin
 
First of all the people who asked the question in the last verse was now answering it themselves. They knew that Jesus was born in Bethlehem but He grew up in Nazareth. Nazareth was a scorned town and no one could ever believe that the Messiah would come from there. They then reasoned that when the Messiah does come, no one will know from where he came. The strange thing was that this was an intentional rejection of Christ. They knew that He would be born of the lineage of David and that He would be born in Bethlehem. (Mal 3:1 KJV) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. In Malachi 3:1, we saw John the Baptist as the fulfillment of the messenger who would precede the coming of the Lord. Here in John 7:27, Jesus shows up suddenly and without warning in the Temple and starts teaching. The fact that these people did not know enough to compare the events in the life of Jesus and the prophecy in Scripture shows how far they strayed from understanding the Hebrew Scriptures. This is the result of following false teaching.
 
John 7:28 (KJB)
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
 
Cried - To utter in a loud voice or to call in vehemence
 
Jesus is telling them that they do know Him and where He is from, but that is not the major issue because right on the heels of that He reaffirms that He is divine. The Jews had focused only on the fact that He was from Nazareth and did not go beyond that fact. Jesus then continues in His discourse that the place of His earthly origin is inconsequential but what is significant is that He was sent By God the Father and His witness is true, especially the witness of Jesus being His only begotten Son, which was evidenced at His baptism by John. Then Jesus lays an indictment upon them that they do not know the Father. This is also an indictment upon all religions that reject Christ as the Mediator. (John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. No one on this earth can approach the Father without the Lord Jesus Christ. This means the Jews believe today that they are still going to the Father, when, because of their rejection of Christ, do not have the Father. They are still in a dead religion which will lead them to Hell. This is not only true for Judaism, but for other religions like Buddhism, Islam, Shintoism, Hinduism, New Age, and others. Without Christ there is no salvation, no matter what works you think you are doing that pleases God. (John 6:29 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. The work of God is to believe on Christ through salvation in Christ and then comes good works which God will give.
 
John 7:29 (KJB)
But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
 
Jesus begins this verse with a conjunction after He lays down an eternal indictment that they do not know the Father. Jesus states that He knows the Father and the reason He does is because He came from the presence of the Father in Heaven. It does not matter how He came here, the fact is that He was sent from The Father. (Gal 4:4 KJV) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Jesus had full knowledge of the Father.
 
John 7:30 (KJB)
Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
 
They had desired to arrest Him at that time but that did not happen because Jesus’ time was not yet. The human reason they did not take Him was probably because they wanted to avoid a riot in the Temple which could have escalated. If a riot happened, then Roman troops would be dispatched and probably many would be arrested and killed. The rulers would bide their time to take Him because they now had proof that He was making Himself out to be God by claiming that He came from God. This verse also shows how powerful the timing of God is. If God decrees something to happen at a specific time, it will not come to pass one second sooner or later. That is why there is no such thing as coincidence in the Kingdom of God, just God-incident. This is a comforting principle for the believer.

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