How does John 7:20 reveal the crowd's misunderstanding of Jesus' mission? Setting and Context Jesus arrives at the Feast of Tabernacles quietly (John 7:10), then begins teaching openly in the temple courts (John 7:14). The religious leaders are already plotting to kill Him (John 7:1; John 5:18), yet much of the crowd—pilgrims from all over Israel—remains unaware of that hostility. The Crowd’s Accusation (John 7:20) “You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?” Layers of Misunderstanding • Ignorance of the plot – They dismiss Jesus’ warning because they do not know the leaders’ murderous intent. • Misreading His character – Labeling Him “demon-possessed” echoes later slanders (John 8:48; Mark 3:22) and shows they see His supernatural authority as something dark, not divine. • Rejection of His mission – By denying any threat, they reject His foreknowledge of the cross (cf. John 10:17-18). • Blindness to prophecy – Isaiah 53:3 foretold, “He was despised and rejected by men.” Their taunt fulfills that word. • Failure to recognize the divine timetable – Jesus had just said, “My time has not yet come” (John 7:6). The crowd thinks He is paranoid rather than operating under the Father’s sovereign plan. Scriptural Insights Clarifying His Mission • John 1:10-11 — “He was in the world … yet the world did not recognize Him.” • Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17 — Even at the cross, ignorance explains much of the opposition. • John 12:27 — His approaching “hour” is the redemptive purpose the crowd cannot see. Spiritual Implications for Today • Mere proximity to religious events (even a feast in the temple) does not guarantee spiritual insight. • Without faith, people still mislabel Jesus—good teacher, moral example, political threat—anything but Lord and Savior. • Scripture’s literal record exposes human blindness and magnifies God’s patience: Christ continues to teach, invite, and eventually lay down His life for the very people who misunderstand Him. |
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