Who is this Man?
30 Days in John - day 8
John chapter seven revolves around a single, unavoidable question: Who is Jesus?
The chapter opens with the brothers of Jesus challenging Him to return to Judea and prove His Messianic claims by performing signs publicly. John adds an important detail: even His brothers did not believe in Him. Jesus does go to the feast, but not on their timetable. He goes later, quietly, and entirely on His own terms.
Even before He arrived, Jesus was already the subject of debate. The religious leaders were actively looking for Him, while the crowds whispered among themselves; some calling Him good, others calling Him dangerous.
When Jesus suddenly appeared in the temple and began to teach, the people marveled at His wisdom. Some dismissed His warnings of an assassination plot as paranoia, while others, especially the residents of Jerusalem, knew such a plot was very real.
Questions piled up around Jesus’ claim to be the Christ. Didn’t His supposed birthplace invalidate those claims? And yet didn’t the signs He was doing seem to confirm them? Where was He going? Can the Christ come from Galilee? Doesn’t the way He speaks indicate that He just might be the Messiah?
John 7 reads like an avalanche of unanswered questions. What is important to notice is Jesus wasn’t trying to quell the conflict. Instead, His teaching intensified the division. Some leaned one way, some the other. The leadership aligned against Him, with a few minor exceptions like Nicodemus. Among the people, some were fully committed to Jesus. Most remained on the fence. They saw the evidence, weighed the arguments, and still refused to believe.
The point is that nothing has changed. Two millennia later, this is still the reality. Jesus still provokes debate and denials, faith and love. Jesus is not a man we can remain neutral about. Nor does He promote or encourage neutrality.
Examine the evidence. Look carefully at His life, His death, and His resurrection.
Ask honest questions, and allow Him to challenge your assumptions.
And understand this: belief in Christ is not merely an intellectual conclusion. It is a faith that involves a change of heart, a change of life, and a change of destiny.