John 7:40–53
When
they heard Jesus’ words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does
not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the
scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village
where David lived?” So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some
of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple
police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did
you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!”
Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you?
Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this
crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone
to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, “Our law does not judge people
without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?”
They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee,
are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.” Then each of them went home.
Reflection
At the end of my prayer today, can I ask: “Who is this
Man, and what have I learned about him today?”
How do I understand my faith, through hard
knowledge only or through my holistic person involving my body, mind and
heart?