How does John 7:35 reveal Jewish leaders' misunderstanding of Jesus' mission? Setting the Scene in John 7 Jesus is teaching openly during the Feast of Tabernacles. He has just announced, “You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come” (John 7:34). His words stir confusion among the religious authorities. The Text in Question “The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?’” What the Leaders Expected from the Messiah • A political deliverer who would remain centered in Jerusalem • Visible, earthly authority restoring Israel’s national fortunes (cf. Acts 1:6) • A kingdom limited to ethnic Israel and its land boundaries Their Misinterpretation in Focus • They assumed mere geographic movement: “Where does He intend to go…?” • They reduced His mission to a possible outreach to scattered Jews (“Dispersion”) or Gentiles (“Greeks”), never imagining a heavenly return to the Father (John 7:33). • They missed the spiritual barrier He highlighted—unbelief—not a physical distance. • They displayed ignorance of prophetic passages that foretold a suffering, exalted Messiah (Isaiah 53:5–12; Psalm 110:1). Underlying Causes of Their Confusion • Spiritual blindness (John 8:43–44) • Reliance on human tradition over prophetic Scripture (Mark 7:8–9) • Prideful certainty that they could “find” or control the Messiah on their terms • Failure to connect His earlier hints of departure and exaltation (John 2:19; 6:62) Contrast with Jesus’ True Mission " Leaders’ Assumption " Jesus’ Reality " " — " — " " Relocation to another earthly region " Return to the Father after the cross and resurrection (John 13:3) " " Limited to ethnic Israel or expatriate Jews " Salvation extended to all nations (John 10:16; 12:32) " " Political deliverance " Redemption from sin through His atoning death (Matthew 1:21) " Lessons for Today’s Disciples • Guard against confining Christ’s work to our expectations or cultural boundaries. • Recognize that unbelief, not distance, keeps people from Christ (John 8:24). • Trust the full, foretold plan of God—even when it challenges conventional ideas. • Celebrate the global scope of the gospel, embracing all peoples (Revelation 7:9). Supporting Scriptures • John 7:33–34; 7:36 – Jesus speaks of going “to Him who sent Me.” • John 8:21 – “Where I am going, you cannot come.” • Luke 19:10 – “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” • Acts 13:46–47 – The gospel destined “for the Gentiles.” • Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” |
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