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A false premise leads to a false belief. When we hold an idea as true—whether or not it is true—it becomes a basis for belief. The more it’s reinforced, the more certain it seems. It becomes like a filter or screen for how we view and understand people, events, and the world around us.
This is why it’s hard to believe something contradictory to what we already believe. There was a time in world history when those who were seen as experts believed the earth was flat and the earth was the center of the universe. There are those who still believe in a flat-earth.
Conspiracy theories are like this. I’ve heard a bunch of them over the years related to anti-church or anti-Christian concerns. Sadly, these get updated every so often and are recirculated. They make their rounds like forwarded emails, social media posts, and books built around certain notions.
Remember the big and infamous Y2K scare of 1999? It sold a lot of books of little to no value. We waited for the turn of the calendar at midnight of 2000 in the Philippines with our lights and computers on. We didn’t see a flicker of an outage, and we lived in an area where power outages were routine.
Many theories and false beliefs about Jesus circulated as the time drew near for His appointment with the cross. Jesus knew why He came to the earth but even those closest to Him didn’t understand. Those who followed out of curiosity and at a distance were clueless as to who He was, as revealed in this part of the story of John 7.
Scripture
Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this the man they want to kill? But look at this! He’s speaking in public, and no one is saying anything to him! Can it be that the rulers really know that this man is the Messiah? However, we know where this man comes from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” [vss 25-27]
Then, while Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he said loudly, “You know me, and you know where I come from. I didn’t decide to come on my own. The one who sent me is true. He’s the one you don’t know. I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”
The Jews tried to arrest him but couldn’t because his time had not yet come. However, many people in the crowd believed in him. They asked, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more miracles than this man has?” [vss 28-31]
The Pharisees heard the crowd saying things like this about him. So the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Jesus.
Jesus said, “I will still be with you for a little while. Then I’ll go to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you won’t find me. You can’t go where I’m going.”
The Jews said among themselves, “Where does this man intend to go so that we won’t find him? Does he mean that he’ll live with the Jews who are scattered among the Greeks and that he’ll teach the Greeks? What does he mean when he says, ‘You will look for me, but you won’t find me,’ and ‘You can’t go where I’m going’?” [vss 32-36]
(John 6:25-36 GW)
Key phrase—
“You will look for me, but you won’t find me. You can’t go where I’m going.”
Digging Deeper...
Review the Scriptures above as you answer the following questions
What were the ideas and thoughts people wondered about Jesus as this story begins?
What are we told the people believe about the Christ (Messiah) and the origin of Jesus?
How did Jesus respond to the people’s questions and thoughts as He taught in the Temple court?
In what way did the Jewish leaders try to control the controversy in the crowd about Jesus?
Reflection...
Earlier in this story, Jesus asked the Jewish leaders why they wanted to kill Him? The crowd shouted back that Jesus was possessed by a demon for thinking this. But here, some in the crowd ask, “Isn’t this the man they want to kill?” Even greater confusion spreads among the crowd as they try to figure out whether or not Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ).
Their dilemma is the testimony of His many miracles and His authoritative teaching, which seem to indicate He is the Messiah. Yet, because they believed they knew the origin of Jesus and His birth, they questioned how He could qualify as the Messiah.
Their traditional belief was the origin of the Messiah would be unknowable. They also believed Jesus was a native of Nazareth in the region known as the land of the Gentiles (non-Jews). They didn’t realize Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in fulfillment of a well-known Messianic prophecy (Micah 5:2).
Instead of clearing up their confusion, which we might think would be best, Jesus stirs up more confusion and controversy among the people when He says, “You will look for me, but you won’t find me. You can’t go where I’m going.”
Why wouldn’t they be able to find Him? Jesus spoke of His true origin as the Son of God and His appointed work as the Redeemer of all humanity. After His redemptive work on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus would return to His Father in heaven (Heb 1:1-3). What is the response of the Jewish leaders? A feeble and futile attempt to control the Son of God.
Taking it to heart...
Read through the Scripture text again as you consider and answer these questions
How is the discussion among the crowd gathered at the Temple contrasted to the Jewish leaders?
What is the attitude of the Jewish leaders towards the people and how do they attempt to control the situation?
How do the Jews try to sort out what Jesus says about going where they can’t find Him?
Is it clear to you that the Father sent His Son to redeem all humanity or is this hard to accept or understand?
Personalize it...
Meditate On This— Our ideas and beliefs affect how we view and understand people, events, and the world around us. When we hold false beliefs this will hinder our understanding of the truth. Often, we will need to set aside what we think we know in order to accept the truth of God.
Prayer Focus— When you find yourself struggling to understand the truth of God or what He wants to do in your life, ask the Lord to show you what is hindering your vision of Him so you can let go of it. Ask the Lord for spiritual discernment, understanding, and wisdom. He promises to give it to us when we ask for it (James 1:5).
©2020—Word-Strong