Discussion about the Origins of the Messiah

Today's Reflections

 

 

 

 

Discussion about the Origins of the Messiah

Jn 7:40-53

⁴⁰Some in the crowd who heard [Jesus’] words said, “This is truly the Prophet.” ⁴¹Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But others said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he? ⁴²Does not scripture say that the Messiah will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” ⁴³So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. ⁴⁴Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

⁴⁵So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” ⁴⁶The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this one.” ⁴⁷So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? ⁴⁸Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” ⁵⁰Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, ⁵¹“Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” ⁵²They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

[⁵³Then each went to his own house.]

Reflection:
 

NEVER BEFORE HAS ANYONE SOKEN LIKE THIS ONE. Never before has anyone spoken like this one. The guards have received orders to arrest Jesus. But they return empty-handed. They have been captivated by Jesus. They have accepted him and placed their faith in him. In reporting to the Pharisees, the guards proclaim the power of Jesus’ words. They testify to Jesus before the Pharisees who openly oppose Jesus.

The Pharisees, instead, reject Jesus. They are planning and plotting his destruction. They question his origin and debate over his credentials. They declare that believers in Jesus, including the guards, are deceived.

Let us pray for the patience to hear the sides of those who are involved. Let us set aside partisanship and prejudice. As Nicodemus reminds us, “Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?”

If you have truly encountered Jesus,
do you return to your friends and proclaim him?