The Court of Public Opinion Concerning Jesus
#87 in Series: “The Life of Christ – in a Harmony of The Gospels”
We are following the life of Jesus as He is now heading toward Jerusalem for the Feast of
Booth (or Tabernacles as it is also called)... Last time we read where Luke 9:51-62 and
Matthew 8:19-22 tells us of Jesus’ encounter with a couple of Samaritan villages, and three
different “would-be followers”... We learned that for one to become a follower of Jesus
– we do so ... on His terms...
Today we return to John’s gospel, chapter seven, and read of details that only John
records... Jesus is still in route toward Jerusalem for the Feast, but even before He
arrives, John tells us a little about what is going on ... in the Court of Public Opinion
Concerning Christ...
What do you suppose is the attitude of those who, in many cases personally witnessed
what Jesus said and did?... What is the opinion of Jesus out there in the public?...
What we see, is that people are ... divided. They were then – they are now...
Before this message is over, however, what really matters is not-so-much what others
think of Jesus – but what you think of Him! What have you concluded about Jesus – or
have you?...
There reality is – your life, and eternity depends on that conclusion – so really, it’s not so
much a “Public Court of Opinion” – but “Your Personal Conclusion” of Jesus that
counts...
Your Personal Conclusion
The Court of Public OpinionConcerning Jesus
#87 in Series: “The Life of Christ – in a Harmony of The Gospels”
The reality is – no one can hide behind someone else’s opinion about Christ... That is
true, whether other people affirm Who Jesus is – or if they try to deny Him... There are
people who think that just because their parents, or grandparents are Christian that
somehow... they are automatically ok and don’t have to ... have a personal conviction
about Christ...
There are even those who think that because someone they admire is a staunch
unbeliever, and that that person as so-called intellectual reasons for dismissing the claims
of Christ – that they don’t need to even think through the issue and that they too are
justified in their so-called “neutral position” concerning Christ...
There reality is – there is no such thing as a neutral position...
Jesus has already said –
Matthew 12:30
He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
- 2 -
It’s my prayer that as we encounter God’s Word today, that if you are a believer, you are
encouraged in your walk with Christ, and if you are not a believer, that the Holy Spirit of
God will call you to the personal conclusion that Jesus is Lord and that you begin
experiencing today His transforming grace in your life...
Let’s consider our text... We read that even before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem that –
John 7:11-36
11
So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?”
12 There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were
saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the
people astray.” 13 Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
Then John continues and tells us of what happened when Jesus did arrive...
14But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began
to teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become
learned, having never been educated?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My
teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he
will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.
18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory
of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
19 “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why
do you seek to kill Me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill
You?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22 For this
reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the
fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23 If a man receives circumcision
on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me
because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to
appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they
are seeking to kill? 26 Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to
Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? 27 However, we
know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where
He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both
know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent
Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 I know Him, because I am from Him, and He
sent Me.” 30 So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him,
- 3 -
because His hour had not yet come. 31But many of the crowd believed in Him; and
they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those
which this man has, will He?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief
priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. 33 Therefore Jesus said, “For a
little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me,
and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 The Jews then said to
one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not
intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He?
36 What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and
where I am, you cannot come’?”
As we think through this text, we will focus in on the people and themes that are revealed
here...
Let’s consider first –
1. The People Involved
There are three distinct people groups we can identify in our text. First, we see –
➢ The leaders who openly reject Jesus
I believe we see this even in verse :11...
John 7:11
So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?”
The phrase “the Jews” most often refers to the Jewish leaders – and they are the most
hostile toward Christ...
For some time now, the Jews have been seeking to kill Jesus... In his commentary on
our passage, D.A. Carson adds – “[the Jews] hope the occasion of the Feast will
draw Jesus out of Galilee, where he was in the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, and thus
bring Jesus into their hands. The words that man (ekeinos) probably reflect scorn or
exasperation, possibly both.”
i
Every time we encounter such words as “the Jews were seeking Him” – we know they
are not seeking Him in order to learn from Him, but to try and do away with Him...
Then we encounter –
- 4 -
➢ The people who quietly affirm Jesus
We read early in the text that there were those who –
John 7:12b
There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning H im; some were saying, “He is a good man”;
There are those who have heard enough and seen enough to conclude that Jesus is ... “a
good man”. They can affirm that much, but that doesn’t yet mean that they have come to
fully trust Him. I say they “quietly affirm Jesus” – because they are not being ... bold
about it. Why?
John 7:13
Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
Especially if someone thought of Jesus as “a good man”, they would be vulnerable to the
Jewish leaders’ hostility being turned on them...
Then there are those who –
➢ The people who erroneously accuse Jesus
This is seen in verse :12 –
John 7:12c
There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning H im; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.”
As we continue through the text, we will see even greater evidence of people’s erroneous
ideas about Christ... Some think Jesus is either a deceiver, or that He Himself is demon-
possessed... Both groups are wrong of course, and we will see how even perhaps some
of them will have a change of mind and heart...
That is really a rather quick introduction to the people – outside of Jesus and His disciples
– who are involved in this ... debate going on out there in the “court of public opinion”...
This leads us to consider –
2. The Pertinent Issues
Now, the pertinent issues are all interwoven throughout this text. Some will stand alone
and are easily identifiable. Some are compounded with more than one issue in the same
verse – but let’s seek to identify them as we go along...
The central point of contention has to do with the –
➢ The character of Jesus
- 5 -
Let’s quickly look again to –
John 7:12
There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He
is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.”
Jesus knows that part of the issue has to do with His character. Look at what He says in
verse :18 –
John 7:18
He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the
One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Jesus is defending His character before them...
We see this issue throughout the text... Some accuse Jesus of being a deceiver –
“leading people astray” – others even accuse Jesus of being demon possessed!
John 7:20
The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?”
The public debate includes more than Jesus’ character – it also involves Jesus’
teachings... Let’s consider –
➢ The doctrines of Jesus
Let’s go back and pick up with verse :14 –
John 7:14-15
14But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began
to teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned,
having never been educated?”
We’ll look closer at verses :14-15 in a moment, but for right now, let’s focus on a key
point in Jesus’ doctrine...
John 7:16-17
16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent
Me. 17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of
God or whether I speak from Myself.
Verse :17 contains teaching like no one else’s... Jesus elevates the desire to do God’s
will, as a prerequisite to obtaining the knowledge of truth...
The 19th Century, British theologian F.W. Robertson said it best – “obedience is the
organ of spiritual knowledge.”ii
- 6 -
Wiersbe says that John 7:17 literally reads, “If any man is willing to do His [God’s] will,
he shall know...” This explains why the Jewish leaders did not understand Jesus’
teachings: they had stubborn wills and would not submit to Him (John 5:40).
John 5:40
and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
Wiersbe raises a question that should be addressed –
Warren Wiersbe – “Is our Lord suggesting here a ‘pragmatic test’ for divine truth? Is
He saying, ‘Try it! If it works, it must be true!’ and thus suggesting that if it does not
work it must be false? This kind of a test would lead to confusion, for almost any
cultist could say, ‘I tried what the cult teaches, and it works!’
No, our Lord’s statement goes much deeper. He was not suggesting a shallow ‘taste
test’ but rather the deep personal commitment of the person to truth.” iii
The obvious question that comes from this is – are you “a person of truth? – If so, then be
deeply committed to Jesus ... THE Person of Truth!...
There is another thing we need to acknowledge ... doctrine and deeds go hand-in-hand...
Not only is Jesus teaching differently that the Jewish leaders, He actually ... does things
that are contrary to what they teach!... Let’s pick up again with verse :21 –
John 7:21-24
21 Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22 For this reason Moses
has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and
on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23 If a man receives circumcision
on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me
because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to
appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Let’s stop here for a moment... What is the “one thing” Jesus could be referring to?...
What would Jesus have done, that would get the Jews ... debating?... It was the healing
of a man on the Sabbath! Go back and read about that again in John 5:10–18...
Jesus logically argues with the Jews, with their own standards... The Law requires that a
male child be circumcised on the 8th day after birth. When that 8th day actually falls on
the Sabbath, what do they do?... They perform the circumcision even though it violates
the principle to not “work on the Sabbath”... Circumcision, the removal of a small piece
of flesh from a child on the Sabbath doesn’t violate the Law – so neither does the healing
of an entire man constitute a violation of the Sabbath!...
- 7 -
Again, Jesus said in verse :24 –
John 7:24
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
John MacArthur – “In the context, Jesus was urging His hearers to abandon their
misconceptions regarding Him and judge His claims with righteous judgment. Those
who do so will find Him to be exactly who He claimed to be, just as He promised they
would (John 7:17).”
iv
What follows is John making note that there were those in the crowd who were a bit ...
puzzled. They are puzzled about –
➢ The credentials of Jesus
Look again at verses :14-15 and how the “authorities” of that day, questioned Jesus’
credentials –
John 7:14-15
14But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began
to teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned,
having never been educated?”
Jesus’ teaching was far above the so-called scholars of the day... They couldn’t fathom
how He could speak of things so deeply, and authoritatively, and do so without having
gone through their schools!...
Jump down to verse :25 –
John 7:25-27
25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are
seeking to kill? 26 Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to
Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? 27 However, we
know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where
He is from.”
I find it interesting that there are those who deny that Jesus is the Messiah, and they are
trying to make two arguments against Christ – and both are based on their ignorance...
First, they say that “they know where He is from”... Implying that they know He is from
Nazareth, and there among many Jews the attitude that “nothing good can come
from Nazareth”!... Do you remember, that even Nathanial had that attitude before he
even met Jesus –
John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
- 8 -
Their second area of ignorance is revealed in their statement –
John 7:27b
... “whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.”
Those holding to this reason for their objection to Christ, don’t know their Bibles... The
intellectually honest Jewish leader knew that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem –
and Jesus was born in Bethlehem!
Micah 5:2
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
Again, they are only showing their ignorance in rejecting Jesus, thinking that He does not
meet the Biblical credential for being the Messiah!...
Jesus addresses this, and in so doing, He actually speaks to His Divine Authority –
Let’s look at –
➢ The authority of Jesus
First Jesus declares that they do know where He has come from – or at least they should
know... He’s been telling them all along, and He tells them again here –
John 7:28-29
28 Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and
know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true,
whom you do not know. 29 I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
Jesus openly declares His authority in addition to the trustworthiness of His message –
and He does so with humility... He cites that He has not come of Himself – as in His
Own Personal autonomy, but He was sent! And the One Who sent Him is true – which in
turn makes Jesus the source of truth... Jesus openly declare yet again, that He knows
HIM Who sent Him – openly implying that ... they do not!
Next, we see –
3. The Revealing Response
Now, I think this is interesting... One’s response to Jesus reveals their true spiritual
condition...
- 9 -
We see immediately that there are two responses, and two responses only... There is
defiant rejection, or there is persuaded conversion... Now, why don’t I just say there is
rejection or acceptance? Because one’s response comes from something much deeper
than their mere choice, or emotion...
Let’s look at this in the text and try to explain. Let’s begin with verse :30 with the –
➢ A defiant rejection
John 7:30
So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour
had not yet come.
Skip to verse :32 for a moment –
John 7:32
The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests
and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him.
“Seeking to seize Him” is the defiant rejection... They are not seeking to seize Him to
make Him their King!... They were trying to take Him into custody, if not kill Him!... It
was their attempt to ... cancel Jesus! It is their willful defiance of Christ that triggers
their attempt – and those seeking to seize Him where the Jewish leaders, they are the ones
who had the “authority” to seize people...
But – notice there is a Greater Authority at work here! “no man laid his hand on Him,
because His hour had not yet come”...
John 7:30
So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
God is Sovereign and He is the One Who will determine when it’s time!...
(This expression that Christ time “has not yet come” – whether used to refer to the
beginning of public ministry [when He turned water into wine (John 2:4)], or referring to
the coming cross, or His second coming – it is pointing to the fact that Jesus lived His life
for the Father’s purpose in the Father’s timing!... Here the expression “His hour had not
yet come” is clearly referring to it is not yet time for Him to be taken into custody which
will take Him to the cross...
But we see a second revealing response that is clearly –
➢ A persuaded conversion
Look again at the next verse –
- 10 -
John 7:31
But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes,
He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”
Their “believing” is not based on mere emotion, but ... persuasion!... The whole purpose
of all the “signs” (as John calls them throughout his gospel) was a demonstration that
Jesus is in fact the Christ! His methods back up His message!... His miracles were
simply demonstrating that His message is true... Many in the crowd that day were
becoming disciples!
There is one more “response” in this scene, and it is that of Jesus Himself – and it is His
response to those who are trying to seize Him... There is a lot here, but basically we see
Jesus responding by giving –
➢ A thought-provoking message
Let’s look at it –
John 7:32-36
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests
and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. 33 Therefore Jesus said, “For a little
while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me, and
will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 The Jews then said to one
another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not
intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He?
36 What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and
where I am, you cannot come’?”
This section is a sermon unto itself... There is a lot here that Jesus is saying. He knows
His time for the cross is coming ... in about six months from this time... He knows there
are those there “seeking Him” only to kill Him. There are also members in this audience
who may be “seeking Him” for other reasons – but the fact is, their opportunities are ...
limited.
The Jews were certainly not understanding what Jesus was saying. They speculated that
Jesus was referring to His departure from Israel to go to those who are scattered, but
Jesus is talking about His departure from this earth...
Later, when Jesus returns to heaven – the place that many in that audience would expect
to one-day go – they will not be permitted to come!...
- 11 -
The main point – in this whole message is – have you come to the place, as Peter and the
other disciples have, to say –
John 6:69
“We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
I think J.C. Ryle’s words are important here –
J.C. Ryle – “What think we of Christ ourselves? This is the one question with which we
have to do. Let us never be ashamed to be of that little number who believe on Him, hear
His voice, follow Him, and confess Him before men. While others waste their time
in vain jangling and unprofitable controversy, let us take up the cross and give all
diligence to make our calling and election sure. The children of this world may hate
us, as it hated our Master, because our religion is a standing witness against them. But
the last day will show that we chose wisely, lost nothing, and gained a crown of glory
that fadeth not away.”
v
- 12 -
Questions to Consider in Community Group:
➢ What is the variety of attitudes out there in “the court of public opinion concerning
Jesus”?
➢ What was different about Jesus’ teaching, than that of the Jewish leaders?
➢ What should be the best take-aways we should consider from our passage?
➢ What quote helped you the most?
D.A. Carson – “[the Jews] hope the occasion of the Feast will draw Jesus out of Galilee, where he was in the
jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, and thus bring Jesus into their hands. The words that man (ekeinos) probably
reflect scorn or exasperation, possibly both.”
F.W. Robertson – “obedience is the organ of spiritual knowledge.”
Warren Wiersbe – “Is our Lord suggesting here a ‘pragmatic test’ for divine truth? Is He saying, ‘Try it! If it
works, it must be true!’ and thus suggesting that if it does not work it must be false? This kind of a test would
lead to confusion, for almost any cultist could say, ‘I tried what the cult teaches, and it works!’
No, our Lord’s statement goes much deeper. He was not suggesting a shallow ‘taste test’ but rather the deep
personal commitment of the person to truth.”
John MacArthur – “In the context, Jesus was urging His hearers to abandon their misconceptions regarding Him
and judge His claims with righteous judgment. Those who do so will find Him to be exactly who He claimed to
be, just as He promised they would (John 7:17).”
J.C. Ryle – “What think we of Christ ourselves? This is the one question with which we have to do. Let us never
be ashamed to be of that little number who believe on Him, hear His voice, follow Him, and confess Him before
men. While others waste their time in vain jangling and unprofitable controversy, let us take up the cross and give
all diligence to make our calling and election sure. The children of this world may hate us, as it hated our Master,
because our religion is a standing witness against them. But the last day will show that we chose wisely, lost
nothing, and gained a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
i D.A. Carson, The Gospel of John, p. 309
ii As quoted at https://www.preceptaustin.org/john-7-commentary#7:17
iii Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p.253
iv As quoted at https://www.preceptaustin.org/john-7-commentary#7:11
v
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of John, Ch. 7, p. 4
