What Old Testament prophecies affirm Jesus' role as the Messiah in John 7:26? Setting the scene in John 7 • Jesus is teaching openly at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. • The crowd marvels that the religious rulers allow Him to speak unhindered. • John 7:26: “Yet here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to Him. Have the rulers truly recognized that He is the Christ?” Why the moment matters • The people knew specific Old Testament prophecies that identified the Messiah. • Seeing Jesus teach boldly inside the temple, they wondered if those prophecies were being fulfilled before their eyes. Old Testament prophecies that point to the Messiah—and converge in Jesus at this feast 1. Promised Prophet who must be heard “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.” ➔ Jesus speaks with divine authority; the rulers’ silence underscores the weight of His words. 2. Son of David, rightful King – 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Isaiah 11:1-5 ➔ The Messiah springs from David’s line. Crowds already called Jesus “the Son of David” (Matthew 21:9), and His genealogy meets the standard. 3. Born in Bethlehem yet from eternity “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah … from you shall come forth for Me One to be Ruler over Israel—One whose origins are from of old, from the days of eternity.” ➔ Though Jesus grew up in Nazareth, His birth in Bethlehem fit the prophecy exactly (Luke 2:4-7). 4. Suddenly appearing in the temple “Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple.” ➔ John 7 shows Jesus doing precisely that—teaching publicly in God’s house. 5. Preaching good news with Spirit-anointed authority “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor.” ➔ Jesus had read this very passage in Nazareth (Luke 4:17-21) and now proclaims truth in Jerusalem. 6. Performing signs of healing and restoration “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened … the lame will leap like a deer.” ➔ Miracles recorded throughout John’s Gospel (e.g., John 5; 9) match these Messianic works. 7. Offering “living water” during the Feast of Tabernacles “On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem.” ➔ Just days later Jesus cries, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37-38), linking Himself to Zechariah’s promise. 8. Proclaiming righteousness in the great assembly “I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not restrain my lips.” ➔ Jesus’ fearless public teaching fits the psalmist’s picture of Messiah declaring God’s truth. Bringing it together • Every prophecy above presents a piece of the divine portrait. • In John 7 the crowd sees those pieces falling into place—Jesus’ lineage, birthplace, authority, miracles, temple presence, and promise of living water all align perfectly with Scripture. • Their question in verse 26 is understandable: if the rulers see what they see, why aren’t they opposing Him? Could it be that Jesus truly is the long-awaited Messiah foretold by the prophets? |
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