John 7:43-48

 

John 7:43 (KJB)

So there was a division among the people because of him.

 

Division - Dissension, schism, or split

 

Since everyone seemed to have their own opinion about Jesus, this caused a great dissension among the crowd. There was much confusion as a consensus of opinion was not going to happen. This situation has never vanished since even today there is much discussion about who Jesus is. Many call Him a teacher, revolutionary, prophet, leader of a sect, Messiah, Son of God, cosmic Christ of the New Age, etc. The only place a person will ever find truth about Jesus is in the King James Bible. There are many Gnostic omissions in the modern versions which chop the name “Lord Jesus Christ” to bring Him down to only a human level. Here is just one example from the ESV:

 

Acts 16:31

(KJV) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

(ESV) And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

 

John 7:44 (KJB)

And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

 

Taken - Capture or apprehend

 

Some of those who had the wrong understanding of who Jesus was wanted to take Him and arrest Him. However, since the timing was not yet, they would not be able to arrest Him because everything had to be done in God’s timing for a certain purpose. Nothing in the Kingdom of God is ever done randomly. The leaders had probably stirred up the people and there are two ways to do crowd control: 1) Quench the crowd; or 2) Light the fire. It depends on how you want to control the crowd, if you want to incite them or calm them down. In this case the leaders wanted to take Jesus and had lit the fire of unbelief and false accusations against Him.

 

John 7:45 (KJB)

Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

 

The officers in view here would have been the Levites who were the temple police. (1 Chr 9:22 KJV) All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office. These may have been the porters who were given charge of watching the gates in the temple. The leaders wanted to know why Jesus was not arrested and brought to them. These officers were taught to be impartial and not to make a hasty decision concerning anyone.

 

John 7:46 (KJB)

The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

 

They found the teachings of Jesus to be in line with the Scriptures and the coming Messiah. They could not arrest a man for preaching. The officers would have to arrest Jesus on a legal charge and not a theological one. Jesus did not break the law because He was teaching in the Temple, the place where all teaching took place. It was the hatred which the leaders had for Jesus that caused them to want Him arrested on a flimsy or no-stick charge. Jesus taught with great conviction and authority and that may be what had impressed these officers.

 

John 7:47 (KJB)

Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

 

Then the Pharisees leveled the accusation against them that they were deceived by the teaching of Jesus. They had to be careful because if these officers had become the disciples of Jesus, then the leaders would be unable to bring any charges against Jesus and maybe the tables would be turned and they would be brought up on some type of charges concerning withholding the information that this was truly the Messiah. So the Pharisees had to bide their time and try to set Jesus up on charges which could stick and hopefully get Him arrested and executed.

 

John 7:48 (KJB)

Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

 

The officers had asked them the question if any of the ruling body, the Sanhedrin, had believed on Jesus? At this point they were probably not aware that Nicodemus was well on his way to becoming a disciple of Jesus. The Jews had figured that no educated person would ever take the claims of Jesus seriously. (Mat 11:25 KJV) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Just like today, unsaved people revel in their educational achievements and many relegate religion to the mindset of the Middle Ages. The Jews thought they were superior to the masses because of their education and their status in the community. It is the same today, many with high educational degrees look down their noses at those who do not have degrees and that arrogancy leads them deeper into unbelief. If it wasn’t for election, none of them would ever become saved.

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