But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah?”
John 7:26 NLT
When Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles the Fall before He was crucified, there was much debate about who He was.
Jesus’ question to the Twelve wasn’t just a teaching tactic. He was looking for their feedback after they had been sent out to preach, two by two, throughout the region of Galilee.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
Matthew 16:13 NLT
“Who do people say that I am?”
Now, at the Festival, John 7:1-8:11 records at least a dozen different perspectives on the identity of Jesus.
1. Perhaps Jesus’ brothers only saw Him as a brother / John 7:3
2. Maybe Jesus’ followers would see Him as a miracle worker / John 7:4
3. Some wondered if He was merely a good man / John7:12
4. Some believed Jesus was a fraud / John 7:12
5. Some saw Jesus as an untrained teacher / John 7:15
6. Some believed Jesus was demon possessed / John 7:20
7. Jesus was described as the man they’re trying to kill / John 7:25
8. Many wondered if Jesus was in fact the Messiah / John 7:26
9. Some questioned if Jesus was the expected prophet / John 7:40
10. The Jewish guards were in awe of Jesus as an outstanding orator, a spellbinding speaker / John 7:46
11. Some viewed Jesus as a mere Galilean, an uneducated, blue collar, country boy / John 7:52
12. Some respected Jesus as a teacher-Rabbi / John 8:4
The thoughts on Jesus were all over the map. They still are. Many of these same perspectives still persist today.
I love Nicodemus’ response to the questions about Jesus. I think, at this point, Nicodemus had placed his faith in Jesus as Messiah as a result of the conversation in John 3.
Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?”
John 7:47-48 NLT
With all the differing perspectives on Jesus, the thought leaders/thought police challenged, “No one believes in Jesus!”
I love Nicodemus’ response to the thought police. Especially since they considered him one of them.
Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up.”
John 7:50 NLT
Nicodemus spoke up!
What did he say?
Jesus’ claims deserve a full and complete examination. Let’s consider the evidence.
Nicodemus was inviting a conversation about the true identity of Jesus.
“Who do you say that I am?”
Jesus invited an investigation. Jesus invited a response.
Nicodemus invites an investigation. Nicodemus invited a response.
This answer to this question is core to the gospel.
Engaging others in this conversation should be core to our evangelism strategy.
Keep it focused on Jesus. Always bring the conversation back to Jesus. Lift Jesus up. Who do you think Jesus is?
It’s all about Jesus.
This blogpost originally appeared at: From Seeker to Defender…The Faith Journey of Nicodemus – Sonlife and is based upon Sonlife’s study, Knowing Him / A 50 Day Study in the Life of Christ / Day 39