JOH 7:45-46 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

>>The power and cruelty of jealousy far exceeds the power of all reason.

SON 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

>>This word "grave" comes from the Hebrew word "sheowl (sheh-ole')" which means "grave, hell, pit."

>>What an exchange jealousy will pay for the unspeakable love of God, and His dear Son who's "...love is strong as death"!

JOH 7:31-32 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.

>>Even while these officers of those murderous, blood thirsty Pharisees, and chief priests stood in His audience, our blessed Saviour revealed the power of His love as He "...stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water," V:37-38.

>>The confusion which resulted in the audience from our Saviour's gracious words proved to work as a deterrent against the officer's ability to arrest Jesus.

JOH 7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

>>"The Prophet," spoken of here is that which was prophesied of in DEU 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

>>This is the same prophesy which Philip spoke of in

JOH 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

>>See what Nathanael's first response was JOH 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

>>It is interesting to note that Nathanael's response was very similar to that of the unbelieving multitude spoken of in the chapter before us for consideration.

JOH 7:40-43 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

>>The state of confusion caused by this division among the people, together with the power in those gracious words of our Saviour—rendered the officers who were sent by the Pharisees and chief priests powerless to move a finger, even though some were willing to.

JOH 7:44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

>>The preaching of Jesus meek and loving doctrine causes division among the people—and schism about His person. See His blessed invitation to come unto Him in

MAT 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden [this divides the sheep from thhe goats], and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

>>The division among this mixed multitude revealed that there was a historical knowledge of the promised Messiah.

JOH 7:40-42 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

>>They seemed to understand the letter of the Word in a historical sense, but they so pitifully overlooked those three little words, "will (or willing)" "do" and "will (or pleasure)" in the doctrine of Jesus.

JOH 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

>>They could quote prophesies as they understood them in line with their own commandments of men, but they rejected the true Messiah who came to fulfill those very prophesies.

>>See what Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah coming out of Galilee

MAT 4:14-16 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

>>The scribes, Pharisees, and chief priests seemed to understand that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but overlooked that He would be taken into Egypt to fulfill Scripture.

MAT 2:14-15 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son, (Cf. HOS 11:1).

>>They also overlooked that it was prophesied that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.

MAT 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene, (Cf. JUD 13:5).

>>These blind leaders of the blind derided Nicodemus for asking

JOH 7:51-52 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

>>These proud leaders and rulers of God's heritage boasted of how familiar they were with Scripture, but see how empty and vain an intellectual knowledge is without the grace of God in the heart.

>>Studying and meditating in the Scriptures is very profitable, and should not be discouraged by any means, but a mere head knowledge is insufficient.

>>Jesus so clearly taught what precedes a saving knowledge of the doctrine of eternal salvation—it all centers in two small words— "will" and "Do."

JOH 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

>>The simplicity of such doctrine was so offensive to the proud that they could not refrain revealing their malicious desire to kill Jesus.

JOH 7:20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

>>The simplicity of the gospel is the greatest offense to the proud who esteem themselves as such authorities of God's Word.

JOH 9:32-33 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

>>Was it not the simple logic of this unlearned man that infuriated the wise?

JOH 9:24-25 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

>>The blindness of these empty professors who were such authorities in themselves was not only revealed but denied by this miracle.

JOH 9:39-41 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

>>The most terrible part of the blindness of the scribes, Pharisees, and chief priests was that it was deliberate. Our text says, JOH 7:45-48 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

>>When they (as they supposed), had succeeded in having Jesus nailed to the cross, see how they railed on Him

MAT 27:41-42 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

>>Not only were they blinded by their own furry against Him, but they loved not the truth. They revealed the very spirit of Antichrist which we see described in

2TH 2:10-12 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

>>What a blessed consolation there is for the living church of Christ in the case scenario we have for our study—See what we read in MAT 16:16-18 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

>>This is such a blessed confirmation of the doctrine of Jesus, i.e., "If any man will do His will."

>>Peter's name "Simon" comes from the root word "Shama (Shaw-mah) in the Hebrew which means, "obedience" and "Barjona," or son of Jona comes from the root word "Yownah (yo-nah)" in the Hebrew which means "dove."

SON 6:9a My dove, my undefiled is but one..."

>>When our Saviour said, "thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," He was saying that "obedience" and "holiness" are the foundation stones of the church against which "the gates of hell shall not prevail."

LUK 6:47-48 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

HEB 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

>>The simplicity of such a doctrine is so powerful it cannot be gainsaid—yet it was such a stumbling block to the self-wise rulers of the church. Our text says, JOH 7:45-46 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

>>What was it that Jesus said that they found so powerful?

JOH 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

>>How is the believer satisfied? By "coming" to Christ, and "drinking," i.e., by receiving from Him—by having his emptiness filled out of Christ's fullness.

>>This does not refer to a single act, but to a way of life! The believer grows in grace—Where was it that you find peace and rest?—It was in Christ!

>>How do we obtain this? It begins with a conscious need (or thirsting) which only Christ can satisfy when He is appropriated to our selves personally.

>>To every thirsting soul there is an irresistible power in those words—"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

>>The power there is in these words restrained the most hellish enemies of our Saviour—our says, JOH 7:45-46 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.