What does John 7:35 suggest about the spread of the Gospel to Gentiles? The Passage Itself John 7:35: “The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Will He go where our people are scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?’” Immediate Setting • Jesus has just told the crowd, “You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come” (v. 34). • His words puzzle the religious leaders, prompting the speculation we read in verse 35. • Their guess—“teach the Greeks”—is meant skeptically, yet it hints at the very mission God will soon unfold. Key Observations from John 7:35 • “Our people scattered among the Greeks” — a reference to the Jewish Diaspora living throughout the Hellenistic world. • “Teach the Greeks” — “Greeks” (Hellēnas) commonly describes Gentiles at large, not merely Hellenistic Jews. • Even the leaders’ sarcastic question recognizes the possibility of Jesus’ message crossing cultural and ethnic boundaries. • John records their words to foreshadow the gospel’s forthcoming expansion beyond Israel. Early Echoes of a Wider Mission • John 10:16 — “I have other sheep that are not of this fold.” • Isaiah 49:6 — “I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” • John weaves these prophetic strands into the narrative long before Acts chronicles the Gentile mission. How the Verse Anticipates Acts • Diaspora cities such as Antioch, Corinth, and Ephesus become hubs where Jews and “Greeks” hear the gospel side by side (Acts 11:19-26; 18:4). • Paul’s pattern—“to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16)—mirrors the very scenario the leaders imagined. • What begins as mockery in John 7:35 turns literal when apostolic preaching reaches countless Gentiles across the Greek-speaking world. Theological Significance • God sovereignly uses even unbelieving speculation to point to His plan (cf. John 11:49-52). • The verse underscores that Jesus’ mission is never provincial; it is global from the start. • It affirms that Scripture consistently previews the inclusion of Gentiles, fulfilling covenant promises to bless “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). Practical Takeaways • Expect the gospel to cross every barrier—language, ethnicity, culture. • The skepticism of opponents cannot derail God’s saving purpose; it often highlights it. • Reading Scripture attentively reveals subtle but powerful hints of God’s overarching redemption plan. |
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