Division Among the People

Lesson #132

In this lesson we will cover John 7:40 – 44. After Jesus spoke about living water, “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?”” (John 7:40 – 41 ESV). It was foretold in Deuteronomy 18:15 – 18 that God would raise up a prophet like Moses. When John the Baptist arrived on the scene people wondered if he was the prophet or the Christ. John said that he was neither. Out text shows some confusion amongst the people as some thought the prophet and the Christ were two different people. Some felt Jesus could not be the Christ because he was from Galilee. They apparently forgot he was actually born in Bethlehem.

Those who believed Jesus was not from Bethlehem presented the argument, “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” (John 7:42 ESV). In Micah 5:2 we read, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (NASB). This verse tells us that Jesus would come from Bethlehem, from among the clans of Judah, would one day be a ruler in Israel, and that he existed from the days of eternity before being born in Bethlehem. Surely this should have been known by the Jews, but people have a way of being blind to what they don’t want to accept. Jesus grew up in Galilee and so the Jews claimed that was where he was from, which meant he couldn’t be the Christ.

“So there was a division among the people over him” (John 7:43 ESV). A passage from James helps us understand what is happening: “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:14 – 16 ESV). Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in our hearts can cause us to be false to or reject the truth which results in different human views, causing division. Sinful hearts rebel against God and that which is truth. As we saw in previous lessons, the truth can be presented, but what is done with that truth depends on the heart of the one hearing it. Has there been occasion when you rejected or were not willing to accept and obey what the Scriptures revealed to you? Are you not studying the Scriptures so you will not have to experience the guilt of disobeying what you just learned?

This division among the people overflowed in hate for Jesus and “Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him” (John 7:44 ESV). Very often when people reject someone their rejection is accompanied by cruelty and the eagerness to cause the person harm. With Jesus, this rejection and cruelty will continue to grow until the time set by the Father for Jesus to go to the cross.

Prayer

Father, I confess that I have experienced this in my own life. I have not liked the message being given by someone and rejected it and thus the person. I now realized that this rejection usually was accompanied by ill feelings toward that person. When my pride sets the standard I find sin waiting at the door. Father, forgive me and continue to conform me into the image of your Son.