Posts by Yong Joo Park:
Jesus – the Only Man who spoke like no other
John 7:45–52 (NKJV)
The Sanhedrin is Confused Over Christ
45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
Message
I. Jesus who spoke like no other (45-46)
See v45.
45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”
The officers were sent to take Him in John 7:32. To them Jesus said John 7:33-34. That is, Jesus should be with them a little while longer, and be with Him who sent Jesus. Jesus would not be found or reached by them. This might give them less reason to take Him. What did the officers answer to the chief priests and Pharisees? See v46.
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
What speech of Him are they referring to? After the officers were sent to take Jesus (John 7:32), Jesus said John 7:33-34 and John 7:37-38.
Based on John 7:33-34, Jesus is distinguished from other prophets. Jesus was from heaven sent by the Father and going back to the Father in heaven. Jesus is the heavenly man (John 3:13, 31-32). Jesus is ‘the Word’ that existed before the creation (John 1:1-3, 14). He is before and greater than any and all great human beings (John 1:15, 27, 30). He was conceived in the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit without a human male. He was fully human and fully God on the earth. He was ‘the Seed of Woman’, who was to destroy the seed of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). In comparison, other prophets were earthly men.
Based on John 7:37-38, rivers of living water will flow out of his heart if he believes in Jesus. The Scripture has said ‘God is the fountain of living water’ (Jeremiah 2:13, 17:13). ‘springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land’ (Isaiah 35:7b NLT). This claim makes Jesus distinguished from all other prophets. He promised powerful change in the hearts of His believers.
II. The Pharisees who boasted of knowing the law but were law-breakers (47-52)
See v47-49.
47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
The Pharisees questioned the officers whether they also were deceived. To support their statement (‘deceived’), they mentioned that
- The rulers and Pharisees (who knew the law) did not believe Him.
- This crowd that does not know the law is accursed (or deceived).
See v50-51.
50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
The Pharisees prided themselves for knowing the law, but they were law-breakers (51, John 7:19). Nicodemus came up with the timely advice (51, Proverbs 25:11). They condemned the innocent man (Jesus) without a hearing. It’s unlawful.
See v52.
52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
John 7:41-42 wrote about a similar issue. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea (the southern part of Israel) but He was moved to Egypt and then to Nazareth in Galilee (the northern part of Israel) when He was young due to the threat of Herod (Matthew 2:13-23). But they didn’t know this. They were judging according to appearance without righteous judgment (John 7:24). We can see their pride, arrogance, bias, and prejudice.
Some recognised, some doubted, and some wanted to take Jesus
John 7:40–44 (NKJV) Israel is Divided over Christ 40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and […]
Jesus Invites Anyone who Thirsts to Come and Drink
John 7:35–39 (NKJV) 35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am […]
Believing the Works of God done by Jesus and Only Believers will be in Heaven
John 7:31–34 (NKJV) 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” Christ’s Departure to the Father 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take […]
Boldness in His time, Gracious Speech, and His Origin and Mission from God
John 7:25–30 (NKJV) Christ’s Origin from the Father 25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but […]
The Doctrine of Jesus that Glorifies God and Their Wrong Judgment
John 7:15-24 [1] 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether […]
Wisdom to Wait for the Right Time
John 7:1-14 [1] Christ’s Brothers Do Not Believe 7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that […]
Jesus, the Messiah who has the words of eternal life
John 6:60-71 [1] Rejection by Many Followers 60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man […]
John 5:36 ~ 6:60-64
The weekly messages between Sunday 30 Apr 2023 and Sunday 13 Aug 2023 are available here: 16 messages on John 5:36 ~ 6:64 * This website was down between 2 Oct 2023 and 8 Feb 2024 and restored on 9 Feb 2024 using the website backup file created on 23 Apr 2023.
Another Witness of Jesus – John the Baptist
John 5:33-35 [1] 33 ‘You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. Last week, we studied that there […]
