In chapter 7, the third group (the religious leaders) were so angry at Jesus that they wanted to arrest Him several times and sent the temple guards to do their dirty work.
Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?” “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered. “Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees. “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?
But this crowd that does not know the law, they are under a curse.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who himself was one of them, asked, “Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?” “Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.” (John 7:45-52)
Jesus’ words had deeply affected everyone. There were those who were:
Captivated, those who became
Combative, and those who were
Courageous
Captivated by Jesus
In this passage, Jesus is standing in the middle of this feast of booths festival with thousands of people listening to His words. The temple guards, who were from the tribe of Levi, were fully armed and sent to arrest Jesus while He was speaking.
To arrest Jesus should have been an easy task since He was unarmed and most likely none of his disciples were about to defend him. In v. 45 we see that the temple guards who went to arrest Jesus were actually arrested by his words and returned to the leading priests and Pharisees empty-handed.
His words were prompted by divine influence,
“His powerful words were a manifestation of God to make Him known.”
His speech was not merely from something that was written down but was living and coming from the Word Himself.
No one can speak to our hearts the way Jesus does and the One who perfectly knows the thoughts and intents of every heart, speaks with such majesty, dignity, and authority yet with such love, humility, gentleness, and grace.
Combative
The Levitical guards were educated in the law - theologically trained as part of the priesthood. He saw the crowds through eyes of love and mercy - as lost sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
The intellectual elite assumed that no one would believe in Jesus, but they were wrong. John recorded that many even among the leaders believed in Him but would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue (John 12:42).
But there was Pharisee named Nicodemus, who had seen Jesus’ miracles and had a personal encounter with Him and did not cower at their words.
Courageous
Nicodemus was the only one who spoke up and confronted his peers with the truth.
“Does our Law convict someone without first giving him a hearing and finding out what he is [accused of] doing?” (John 7:51)
These self-righteous leaders condemned the multitude for being ignorant of the Law but Nicodemus had the courage to reveal their hypocrisy.
The Pharisees put people down in order to lift themselves up,
“Jesus laid His life down to lift others up.”
The Pharisees had separated themselves from the people whereas Jesus came to be with the people.
They spoke words they didn’t hold themselves to and couldn’t keep even if they wanted, but when Jesus spoke, His words were powerful, every word came to pass and He fulfilled every promise. Jesus not only invites us to come and partake of His life, He gives His life.
“Because we love one another, we must speak the truth.”
Because we know the truth, we must be people characterized by love. It’s not about being right but doing what’s right for the Lord's sake, speaking truth to our own hearts, in our home, in the church and to the unsaved but it takes courage to make a stand, speaking the truth in love.
We are all ambassadors for Christ, called to bring the Good News, the power of His Word to those who are lost and seeking for life. Is there a cost? Yes, sometimes truth hurts, sometimes truth offends but God’s truth is powerful and has the power to save, to heal and bring restoration to people for all of eternity.
As God’s people, let’s not just be captivated by His words, let us not become combatant when we are challenged but as we hear the truth of God words let’s choose to be courageous.
