No one ever spoke like this Man!

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" So there was a division among the people because of Him. Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" They answered and said to him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee."

- John 7:37-52

Jesus has secretly gone to the Feast of Tabernacles at the temple in Jerusalem. (That is, not openly, as He will in the Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem and His Passion.) There, the crowds are stirred with opinions about Him. Who is He? A holy man? Is he a deceiver? He speaks before them. See the readings of the past two days: My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready, and Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. My study bible notes here: "The last day, that great day of the feast is probably the seventh or eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Ceremonies include a procession from the pool of Siloam, carrying water and pouring it as a libation at the temple. This commemorates the water flowing from the rock which Moses struck in the wilderness (Ex. 17:1-7), and provides the context for the Lord's words, if anyone thirsts. Living water (v. 3) is the gift of the Spirit (v. 39) and the new life which springs forth by the power of the Spirit. Christ gives the Holy Spirit, and the believer's heart consequently flows with new life. Christ does not force us, but is always available if we desire Him."

Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet." My study bible says, "The Prophet: Many Jews of those days were looking not only for the Messiah (or Christ) but also for a prophet who would be a new Moses, one who would lead Israel out of bondage (Deut. 18:15-19). Reference is often made during the Holy (Passion) Week services to the "Great Moses," especially on Holy Saturday." We understand the turmoil in the crowds: expectations, political intrigue, and the desire for a liberator all compete with Jesus' spiritual message.

Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" So there was a division among the people because of Him. Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. A note reads: "We know that Jesus did come from the line of David and was born in Bethlehem, as had been prophesied. But the people think He is from Nazareth in Galilee. Far more significantly, throughout his Gospel John uses occasions like this to bring out the truth concerning Jesus' eternal origin from the Father (see 7:28; 8:14, 23). No arrest could be made before Jesus' 'hour' had come (v. 44)." Again, we see the conflicts in the crowd, the concerns of the people and the political machinations involved. What are their expectations? What do they seek? Are our concerns so different today when we seek guidance or someone to lead us out of problems we face?

Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." My study bible notes: "The enemies of Jesus increasingly scheme to destroy Him. The officers of the temple were sent out to Him in the middle of the Feast (v. 32), and it is now the last day. They came back saying, No man ever spoke like this Man! (v. 46). St. John Chrysostom writes, 'The Pharisees and the Scribes . . . who even witnessed miracles and read Scriptures, derived no benefit from all this. . . . The attendants [the officers], on the other hand, though they could lay claim to none of this, were captivated by a single sermon. . . . For when the mind is open to conviction there is no need of long speeches. Truth is like that' (Homily 52)." I like the understanding of St. John Chrysostom - this message reaches us when our minds are open to it. I also take note that the leadership is scathing in its deprecation of the crowds. It is often our own confidence in what we believe we know that prevents us from learning something new. Their own authority, of course, is supremely important to them.

Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" They answered and said to him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." A note here reads, "Nicodemus (v. 50) has spoken with Jesus (3:1-21), and may well be on his way to becoming a follower (19:39). Others also believed in Christ, but were afraid of repercussions (12:42). Nicodemus's defense of Jesus (v. 51) is based upon legal grounds: they should first listen to Jesus' words before He is arrested. (See Ex. 23:1, forbidding false reporting; Deut. 1:16, requiring that both sides of the case be heard; see also Josephus Antiquities 14:167.) The Pharisees fail to uphold the law, making a sarcastic response to Nicodemus (v. 52). But their statement condemns them and shows their blindness to Scriptures: the prophet Jonah came from Gath Hepher, a town in Galilee only 3 miles from Nazareth (2 Kin. 14:25)."

We read of the divisions among the people, and between the people and the leadership. Nicodemus speaks out for the proper fulfillment of the law - the just judgment according to the procedures set forth in the law. The Pharisees make a sarcastic remark to Nicodemus: "Are you also from Galilee?" implying prejudice, and also a disparaging rejection of those who are from what was considered Gentile territory. We see ourselves in this crowd: the opinions that indicate people are torn in one direction and another, that reflect their concerns and expectations in life and the state of material affairs, the oppression of Israel by a foreign power, and the temple authorities trying desperately to hold onto their power (in which they have an uneasy cooperation with Roman authorities). Have political situations or our natures ever changed? An interesting twist is here in the name of Nicodemus. A Greek name, it means, literally "victory of the people" or "victory of the assembly." It has reflections in the word "liturgy" which means the "work of the people." Who represents and speaks for the people here, in their interest? Think about the laws of justice and who they are meant to protect. What is being listened to here? Who understands or interprets Jesus' spiritual message? Who can hear it? Let us take note, when we think our own solutions can only come in certain forms. In the turmoil and trauma of the world, can we hear this message? Do our own credentials get in the way? We may need to listen in a whole new way to find what is necessary. We may be missing the good part.

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41,42