45 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? 49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. 50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 51 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. 53 And every man went unto his own house. (John 7:45-53 KJV)
Rejected by the Authorities
The chief priests and Pharisees held a private meeting to plan how to suppress Christ. Though it was the great day of the feast, they neglected its religious services, leaving them to the common people while they focused on church politics. They sat in the council chamber expecting Christ to be brought as a prisoner, having issued warrants for his arrest (John 7:32).
The officers returned without him, having done nothing. The rulers reproved them: “Why have you not brought him?” He had appeared publicly; many people were ready to assist in taking him; this was the last day of the feast, and they would not have such another opportunity. It vexed them that those who depended on them and had been taught to distrust Christ should disappoint them (Psalm 112:10; Nehemiah 6:16).
The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken like this man” (John 7:46). This was true—no man, not even Moses, ever spoke with such wisdom, power, grace, clarity, and sweetness. The very officers sent to take him were captivated by him. Though they were unlikely judges of eloquence and had no reason to think well of Jesus, his words were so self-evidently powerful that they could not help but prefer him above all others. Thus God restrained them through the power he has upon the consciences even of bad men. Providence ordered it so that they bore this witness before their masters, making their guilt in opposing Christ greater.
The Pharisees tried to win back their officers by stirring prejudice against Christ. First, they said, “Are you also deceived?” (John 7:47). From the beginning, Christianity was portrayed as a great deception, and those who embraced it as dupes. They implied it was beneath the officers’ intelligence to be taken in by such a teacher. Second, they warned it would damage their reputation: “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?” Few of them had. The cause of Christ seldom has rulers and Pharisees on its side; it does not seek or offer worldly gain, and its terms of self-denial and the cross are unwelcome to the great. Many have been swayed against Christ because those in high position rejected him, choosing to be damned for fashion’s sake.
They added, “But this crowd that knows nothing of the law is cursed” (John 7:49). They spoke scornfully, as if the common people were nothing but a rabble. If they meant the Jewish commonalty, they were the seed of Abraham, in covenant with God, and not to be despised. If they meant Christ’s followers, though generally poor and lowly, they had wisdom, integrity, and favor with God. Often, God chooses the despised, while men despise those God has chosen. Their claim that the people did not know the law was false; many likely knew it better than the Pharisees, as David did (Psalm 119:99–100). And if the people were ignorant, it was the leaders’ fault for failing to teach them (Luke 11:52). Finally, they declared the people cursed—a presumptuous and uncharitable judgment. Such words were meant to frighten the officers from siding with Christ. These suggestions seem to have silenced the officers, for they made no further inquiry.
Nicodemus, a member of their council, then spoke (John 7:50). Though he had once come to Jesus by night, he remained in the council, perhaps to defend Christ when possible. When occasion came, he boldly opposed the whole group. He said, “Does our law judge a man without first hearing him and knowing what he does?” (John 7:51). This principle—that no one be condemned unheard—is a rule of justice in all civilized nations. He did not appeal to Christ’s miracles or doctrine, knowing they would reject such arguments, but used their own law to expose their injustice. He reminded them that judgment must be based on facts, not opinions or rumors.
No one could deny his point, but instead of answering, they mocked him: “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee” (John 7:52). Their reasoning was false—Christ was not from Galilee, and prophets such as Jonah and Nahum had come from there. Even if no prophet had yet come from Galilee, that was no reason none could. Prejudice against a place is no proof against a person’s worth.
The council then broke up in confusion, each going home. They had met to plot against Christ, but their plan was frustrated by one plain, honest word. Seeing an opponent among them, they postponed the matter for another time. Thus the counsel of the Lord stood firm, despite the devices of men.