Connect John 7:27 with Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's origins. Setting the Scene in John 7 “Yet we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.” (John 7:27) • Jerusalem crowds believed Messiah’s birthplace would be a mystery. • Jesus, openly teaching in the temple, appeared to contradict that expectation. Old Testament Clues About a Very Specific Birthplace • Micah 5:2 — “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah … out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.” • 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Jeremiah 23:5; Isaiah 11:1 — promise to David’s line, anchoring the Messiah in Judah and Bethlehem’s royal family. • Genesis 49:10 — scepter remaining with Judah, again fixing tribal origin. Clues About a Visible Family Line • Genesis 12:3; 22:18 — seed of Abraham. • Ruth 4:18-22 — genealogy from Judah to David, emphasizing a traceable lineage. • Isaiah 11:1 — “A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse.” • Thus, Scripture openly “names” Messiah’s tribe, clan, and town. Prophecies Hinting at a Hidden, Heavenly Origin • Micah 5:2 — “origins … from the days of eternity” points to pre-existence. • Isaiah 9:6 — “His name will be … Mighty God, Everlasting Father,” signaling divinity beyond earthly birth. • Daniel 7:13-14 — “Son of Man … coming with the clouds of heaven,” an arrival from above, not a hometown. • Proverbs 30:4 — “Who has ascended to heaven and come down? … What is His name, and what is the name of His Son?” • Malachi 3:1 — Messiah “will suddenly come to His temple,” unexpected and unannounced. • Isaiah 53:8 — “Who can describe His generation?”—mysterious lineage. Reconciling the “Known” and the “Unknown” • Scripture gives two strands: – A precise, earthly birthplace and royal line (knowable). – A divine, eternal origin (unsearchable). • Crowds in John 7 latched onto the hidden strand, overlooking the clear Bethlehem prophecy. • Jesus’ incarnation unites both truths: fully human from Bethlehem, fully divine from eternity. How Jesus Matches Every Prophecy • Born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7; Matthew 2:1-6) exactly as Micah foretold. • Line of David (Matthew 1; Luke 3) fulfilling covenant promises. • Grew up in Nazareth of Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah 9:1-2 about light dawning “in Galilee of the nations.” • Pre-existent Word who “became flesh” (John 1:1-14). • Entered the temple suddenly and repeatedly (John 2:13-17; 7:14). • Ascended and will return “with the clouds” (Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 1:7). Takeaways for Today • Prophecy fits together like a mosaic; partial readings cause confusion. • Jesus’ dual origin—earthly and eternal—confirms both His humanity and deity. • Every detail God spoke centuries earlier came to pass in Christ, strengthening confidence in all Scripture. |
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