Confronting the Galilean

KEY VERSE: “Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?” —John 7:41

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: John 7:37-52

AT THE TIME of the events recorded in the 7th chapter of John, the ministry of Jesus was progressing well. Jesus had performed many great miracles and attracted much attention, including that of the Jewish leaders.

Many of his teachings were hard to understand. For example, “Jesus said, I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” (John 7:33 New International Version) The Jews who heard these words wondered where Jesus intended to go that they could not find him.

While at a feast in Jerusalem, Jesus uttered another great saying: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37,38) As John explained, Jesus spoke of those who would accept him as their redeemer, make a consecration to God, and receive God’s Holy Spirit. The words impressed the listeners, and some said, “Surely this man is the prophet.” (vs. 40, NIV) Others said, “He is the Christ.” Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the scripture say that Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”—vs. 42, NIV

Indeed, the Scriptures did say that Christ would come from David’s family and be born in Bethlehem, and although the people did not know it, Jesus was from David’s family. Both Jesus’ parents were of the house of David; but it was more important that Mary, his mother, be descended from the line of David. And though Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth just before the birth of Jesus, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that all should be taxed. Thus Joseph and Mary were forced to go to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.

Later the family went back to Nazareth after fleeing Herod’s murderous intention by going to Egypt. Joseph preferred to stay in Judea, “but when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”—Matt. 2:22,23

The people who heard Jesus speak were unaware of these facts. Because of Jesus’ words, the crowd became divided, and aroused to such an extent that Temple officers wanted to arrest him; but they did not. When they reported to the chief priests and Pharisees, they were asked, “Why have you not brought him?” The officers answered, “Never man spake like this man.”—John 7:43-46

The Pharisees told the officers that they were deceived, and it was called to their attention that none of the rulers or Pharisees believed on Jesus. When Nicodemus sought to defend Jesus, asking that he be not judged without a hearing, the only reply given was, “Are you from Galilee too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”—John 7:50-52, NIV

Nazareth was not held in high esteem in Israel. This is why Nathanael had said, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46) It is believed that Isaiah’s prophecy regarding the Messiah, is an example of the general feeling concerning Christ which would be evident at his First Advent: “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men.”—Isa. 53:2,3

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