John 7:45-53 - Lesson #81

Talk about Jesus can cause division quicker than any other subject. Perhaps this is because the message of Jesus draws a clear line and requires a choice: "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division" (Luke 12:51). The Pharisees understood Jesus' message and were consistently angered because Jesus said the way to eternal life was not through their religious system. They had made their choice and would no longer be swayed by words of truth. When they heard Jesus was speaking during the Feast, officers were sent to arrest Him.

John 7:45-53
"Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, 'Why have you not brought Him?' The officers answered, 'No man ever spoke like this Man!' Then the Pharisees answered them, 'Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.' Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 'Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?' They answered and said to him, 'Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.' And everyone went to his own house."

The officers failed in their task of bringing Jesus, but it's interesting to note the courage in their report. Failure in arresting Jesus could have severe consequences and would certainly justify making excuses - perhaps He was gone before they arrived, or maybe the crowd assisted in His escape. But these officers simply said they didn't arrest Him because of the power of His word.

The anger of the Pharisees rose to the surface, as did their pride. Ever notice how often pride is at root of anger? The Pharisees claimed to know every detail of the Law - both the portion given through Moses and the many additional laws created through their religious system. And no one of such superior understanding would be deceived by Jesus - Jesus was only for those less educated, less trained, less religious.

But the same Nicodemus who had talked with Jesus about being born again (John 3), brought forward a finer point of the law which said they couldn't yet judge Jesus without finding out more about Him. This can't be said to be a defense of Jesus, but Nicodemus supplied just enough confusion to disperse the group - for now!

Before anything is accepted as truth it must first pass through the filter of our world view. The Pharisees had a world view of self righteousness - self-earned eternal life - and it was nearly impossible for the truth of righteousness as a gift from God through Jesus to pass into their acceptance. What world view have we formed? What view are we teaching our children? His sacrifice was a wonderful gift for the forgiveness of sin. Let's allow this truth to pass through our man-made filter. Let's receive the truth and then live all the rest of our days giving glory to the truth of God.