And there was much muttering about him among the people. John 7:12
Just as there are very different reactions to Jesus today, so were there during His life on earth. During the Jewish Feast of Booths, Jesus went to the temple and began teaching (7:14). What was the reaction? “While some said, ‘He is a good man,’ others said, ‘No, he is leading the people astray’” (7:12).
On the one hand, some marveled at Jesus. “The Jews therefore marveled, saying, ‘How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?’” (7:15).
Yet, on the other hand, there were some who mocked Jesus. Jesus said, “You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come” (7:34). Some of the Jews mockingly said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?” (7:35). That’s pure cynicism, as if to say, “Maybe He thinks he is going to teach the whole world?”
“So there was a division among the people over him” (7:43). Some said, “This is the Christ” (7:41); and others said He had a demon (7:20). You cannot get a more divergent opinion about the same person than that. Some said He was the Christ, the One on whom hope for this world depends, and therefore should be welcomed and received. Others said He had a demon, a source of great evil, and therefore should be cast out. They either sought to arrest Him (7:30) or put their faith in Him (7:31).
Pay attention to the competing voices in your inbox, on your social media feed, around your table, at work or church, and even within your own heart. What are some of the divergent opinions you are hearing about Jesus?
