Skip to content

Commentaries
English
John
  
40When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This is really the prophet."41Others said, "This is the Christ," but some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"43So there was a division among the people over him.44Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.


Some of the listeners felt the might of truth in Jesus’ words, and submitted to that power. They publicly confessed that he was a prophet, knowing God’s will, and discerning the secrets of men’s hearts. He is the appointed prophet promised to Moses, who is to lead the people of the Old Testament from victory to victory in fellowship with God. In this way some of them dared to confess that the Nazarene was truly the promised Messiah.
However, the logic of the Scribes protested, "No! He comes from Nazareth, but the Messiah must be from David’s town and of his seed." This reference to Scripture is correct. So why did Jesus not inform them that he was born in Bethlehem? There are reasons for this: Firstly, the family of Herod would not allow for a new king from outside their dynasty. They were prepared to slaughter tens of thousands to keep in power. Secondly, Jesus had no wish to win converts by way of historical proofs. He preferred to build up their trust by love and their perception of his sovereignty. Thus he drew to himself those who believed without seeing.
Controversy grew among the crowds, and they split into parties. Some confessed him to be the Messiah others denied this. The temple servants stood by aiming to arrest Jesus. But the sovereign majesty of his words deterred them and they were unable to approach him.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we worship you for your love and majesty. You are the source of life. You have bound yourself with us by faith. You have poured your Spirit into us. Your divinity has become ours by faith, we sinners. For you have cleansed us by your blood, to live for ever.
Question
Why has Jesus the right to say, "If anyone thirst let him come to me and drink?"