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In the Beginning: The Book of John
(John 7:45-53[HCSB])
45 Then the temple police came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why haven’t you brought Him? ”
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46 The police answered, “No man ever spoke like this! ”
47 Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled too? 48 Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed! ”
50 Nicodemus — the one who came to Him previously, being one of them said to them, 51 “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it? ”
52 “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you? ” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
53 [So each one went to his house … ]
None from Galilee
No man ever spoke like Jesus! Even though He was considered a nobody from nowhere, He commanded the crowd’s undivided attention. Today we would say that the evidence was undeniable and Jesus’ authority beyond questioning. Yet, there was a persistence of denial and condescension as the priests and Temple guards demeaned the crowds for following the charismatic Christ. To further justify their wrong thinking the authorities satisfied themselves with the false knowledge that no one of consequence ever came from an out-of-the-way place like Galilee. This, however, was an over generalization as Jonah, Nahum, and possibly Elijah hailed from Galilee.
Knowing the truth, it is interesting how quickly even we can dismiss it when challenged. We revert to our opinions, sticking to our stories, ignoring facts, and exerting our secular authority to get what we want when we are challenged in a persistent manner. This can quickly become vicious when we are in a “protect mode” regarding authority, lifestyle, material & money.
We see how the conversation turns prejudicial and nasty when Nicodemus attempts to defend Jesus by suggesting a fair evaluation of His presumed guilt. The Pharisees suggest that maybe he (Nicodemus) is also from Galilee.
This ploy is one that turns the tables and puts the supporter of any unpopular individual or group immediately on the defensive. It is simply an inference of “guilt by association.”
Jesus calls us to be “guilty” by association, and to loudly proclaim, “He is Messiah!”
