Let’s return now to John chapter 7 and the advice of Jesus’ brothers. You may recall their message to Jesus was, “You are doing all these miracles here in the backwater of Galilee. If publicity is what you are after, go to the big city, Jerusalem, and put on a show there in front of the big crowds.” Of course, publicity was not what Jesus was after and He initially passed on their suggestion. But the time was soon ripe for the next revelation of the Messiah King. Let’s see what happens next.
Jesus did end up going to the feast in Jerusalem shortly thereafter, and while there, announced Himself to the crowd. “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” ‘ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39).
This public proclamation of Jesus animated the crowd and they responded, “Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, ‘This certainly is the Prophet.’ Others were saying, ‘This is the Christ (i.e. the Messiah).’ Still others were saying, ‘Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He?’ “ (John 7:40-41). Others probably returned to their question from John 6 when Jesus described Himself as the bread come down from heaven. “They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, “I have come down out of heaven”?’ ” (John 6:42). Questions, assumptions, and guesses.
Something is stirring. The crowd is quizzical. Could it be that the promised Messiah King has finally arrived? Could Jesus of Nazareth fit the bill? Is Jesus about to go public with His kingdom? All questions for next time.