“No one ever spoke the way this man does.” John 7:46

“‘No one ever spoke the way this man does,’ the guards replied.  ‘You mean He has deceived you also?’ the Pharisees retorted. ‘Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in Him?  No!  But this mob that knows nothing of the law – there is a curse on them.’

Nicodemus,who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number asked, ‘Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?’ They replied, ‘Are you from Galilee too?  Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.’   Then they all went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.”  John 7:46-53

Many people at the Festival were believing that Jesus was the Messiah. The Pharisees, and Rulers decided Jesus had to be stopped, so they sent the Temple Guards to arrest Him, but when they listened to His words, they simply could not do it, and they told the Leaders why.  “They had never heard anyone speak the way He did.”  This greatly frustrated those who were in control, and instead of saying, “Perhaps we should listen to this man ourselves if He is that great!” , they verbally attacked the guards, and insulted the intelligence of those who believed.  They did the same to one of their own, Nicodemus, as he pointed out their own law of hearing from the accused.   They told him “he did not know what he was talking about.  Go look into it.”

This goes back to the old saying, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is already made up.”

Obviously the Leaders had already met and made up their minds about Jesus, and they did not want to hear what He had to say.  They did not want to hear Him speak.  They did not want to get to know Him. The evil one was whispering into their ears about the position they may lose if the people accepted Jesus as the Messiah, and put Him on the throne of David.  It was ego, and flesh. They were listening to the lies instead of seeking truth in the spirit.

Sadly this is what the evil one does to many in this world.  He darkens their minds into believing that Jesus is not the Word.  They will not even try to listen to Him, nor to those He has called to speak His Words.  Their mind is made up because of some incorrect things they may have heard, or believed from childhood, or because they wrongly think of something they may have to give up to accept Jesus as the Christ.  If they could only hear Him speak of the unconditional Love He has for each of them.  Of the complete forgiveness given to each through Him for things done wrong. Of the complete acceptance of whoever believes in Him – just as they are.  Of seeing what He has done for mankind, and continues to do each day to bring the abundant life to all who believe.  If they could only open their ears, and their hearts and hear Him, they would say, “No one ever spoke the way this man does.”, and believe.

  Let us pray to the God of Love to call those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord into His Light, that they may see, and hear in faith.   “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word about Christ.”  (Romans 10:17)

You are dearly and unconditionally loved by our Lord, God’s Beloveds.  Receive His love, and all that it is, and let it pass through you to others.