To read the texts click on the texts: Jer11:18-20; Jn 7:40-52
The invitation of Jesus to
the thirsty to come and drink from the living water that he will give leads to
the discussion among the people which begins the text for today. While those
who come on hearing this invitation regard Jesus as “the” prophet, others
explicitly call him the Messiah. Still others question whether Jesus could
really be the Messiah because of the popular belief that the Messiah would come
from Bethlehem. Yet it was also true that some believed that the origins of the
Messiah would be a mystery and no one would know where he would come from.
These contrary views lead to a difference of opinion and though some want to
arrest Jesus they do not lay hands on him.
When the police return to
inform their masters that they could not arrest Jesus because they had never
heard anyone speak like him, they are accused of having also been deceived by
Jesus and taken in by his sophistry.
Nicodemus who is also one of
the Jewish authorities speaks on behalf of Jesus and reminds his companions of
the law and a hearing that was required before judgement. His question is
ironic and seems intended to bring out that his companions knowledge of the law
is a matter of doubt. They respond to Nicodemus in the same way in which they
respond to the temple police. They deride him and assert their seemingly
superior knowledge of scripture. Though they are emphatic that no prophet is to
arise from Galilee, this knowledge is faulty, because the scriptures do speak
of the Galilean origins of the prophet Jonah. John intends to convey through
this assertion on the part of the Pharisees that they had misunderstood both
the origins of the Messiah and who he is. Traditional messianic categories are
inadequate because they rely on prior assumptions and expectations rather than
judging Jesus on the basis of what he reveals about himself: that he is the one
sent from God.
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