Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

John 7:25-31

Following the teaching of Jesus and His conversation with many of the “common folk” at the Feast of Tabernacles, some of those from Jerusalem recognize Who Jesus is. They were either present for or had heard about the Sabbath Day controversy that moved some of the Pharisees to seek to kill Jesus. But these people are somewhat perplexed.

They saw that this is the one that the leaders wanted to kill but He is not hiding from them. In fact, He is speaking openly in public! So, the people speculate, “Perhaps the leaders know that this is the Messiah!” But then they are confused because they had been taught that nobody knows where the Messiah would come from. They knew, or at least thought they knew, that Jesus was from Galilee. 

This confusion was caused because they had been taught and believed error. It also shows that the common people, even in Jerusalem, did not feel at liberty to hold their own opinion of things. They felt they had to appeal to their religious leaders about what to think or say. The confusion could have been avoided if the leaders had taught the people to think rather than forcing obedience, and if the people had searched the scriptures themselves like the Bereans (Acts 17:11).

Jesus boldly interrupts their argument and confusion to point out the true reason they are confused. They are looking at Jesus with just their natural eyes. Whether they had spiritual eyes or not, they were not using them. Jesus had shown by His miracles and His teachings that He was the Messiah and was sent from God the Father. Jesus flat out tells them that they do not know the Father. It is no wonder that the people got mad!

Some of the people then tried to capture Jesus to deliver Him to their leaders. They were unable to take Him because Jesus did not allow it. This further proves that He is the Son of God!

There were others in the crowd that believed Jesus truly was the Messiah. Their statement about when Christ comes was not a doubt that Jesus was Christ. It was a statement saying the Jesus has done everything the Messiah is supposed to do, what more should we expect?

Most of the confusion in our lives comes when we stop using the brain that God gave us. Or, when we trust teachings of the world more than we trust the revealed will of God in the Bible. If we are confused we need to know that it is most likely not God that confused us! Remember:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1st Corinthians 14:33

One of the main points that I draw from this entire chapter is the need for God’s people to think for themselves. Yes, we need pastors and teachers, but each one of us needs to be in God’s word teaching our brain what our regenerated heart already knows. – We CAN trust Jesus.