Jn 7:40-53
40Some in the crowd who heard [Jesus’] words said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But others said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he? 42Does not scripture say that the Messiah will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 43So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. 44Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
45So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this one.” 47So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” 50Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, 51“Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” 52They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” [53Then each went to his own house.]
Others said… But others said. Imagine this simple man Jesus causing all the furor and controversy about his person. People still argue today as to Jesus’ true identity—Son of God, prophet, teacher, miracle worker, angel, man… But Jesus has survived all this and the cross. He has outlived kings and kingdoms. Governments have come and gone; rulers have risen and fallen. Jesus is still here, alive and challenging.
What is important is not what the Pharisees say, or what Nicodemus testifies to, or what the mob shouts. The story is not about us or what the preachers and prophets, true or false alike, have said about him; they have long been gone. The good news is about Jesus, about who he is in our lives, about his life and legacy, and the change he has effected in our lives and those around us.