Read John 7:1–36
The crowd, the religious leaders, and even Jesus’ own brothers are trying to make sense of His identity. Some
believe He is a good man, others think He is a deceiver, and still others wonder if He could be the Messiah. This confusion reflects the timeless struggle to understand who Jesus truly is—a question we still have to answer today.
Early in the passage, Jesus’ brothers encourage Him to go to the Feast of Tabernacles and publicly reveal Himself. They don’t believe in Him yet (7:5), which shows that even those closest to Him had not fully grasped who He was. Jesus responds by explaining that His timing is not determined by human expectations but by the will of God. This reveals a key aspect of His identity—He operates according to God’s plan, not man’s.
As Jesus teaches at the Feast, His words stir more questions. Some are amazed at His wisdom, wondering how He knows so much without formal training (7:15). Jesus responds by pointing them to the source of His authority: “My teaching isn’t mine but is from the one who sent me” (7:16). Jesus isn’t just a wise teacher—He is sent from God and speaks with divine authority.
The crowds continue to speculate about Jesus’ identity. Some think He might be the Messiah, but they are confused by His origins, saying, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he?” (7:41). They are caught up in their assumptions, unable to see that Jesus fulfills all the Messianic prophecies, including being born in Bethlehem.
In this passage, Jesus asks the same question of us: “Who do you say I am?” Is He just a good teacher or prophet, or is He the Son of God? Jesus’ words and actions point to the truth: He is the Messiah, sent from God to bring salvation. The question is not just for those in John 7—it is for us today. How will we answer?
Begin praying with Psalm 72:11:
“Let all kings bow in homage to him,
all nations serve him.”