Hardness and Unbelief of Man (Verses 1-13)

One of humanity’s greatest problems lies in its own hardness of heart and distrust towards God. In his natural condition, man is in a state of defiance and rebellion against the living God. In this passage of Holy Scripture the Bible indicates that even the “brethren” of our Lord did not, at the time, have faith in Him. Some of Christ’s closest earthly relatives failed to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. It was alarming that His own people, “the Jews sought to kill Him,” but it was even more tragic that His brothers denied Him. Witnessing Christ’s miracles, listening to His teachings, and being in His presence did not compel them to believe.

True followers of the Lord Jesus Christ will do well to remember that they will often stand alone in the cause of Christ. The Lord knows the heart of every believer. He has not forgotten those who feel isolated due to the position they face. If you are one who is alone turn to Christ this hour for comfort. He is near.

One of the key principles that is drawn out in the text is the reason why so many hate Christ. We are told that our Lord said to His unbelieving brethren, “the world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” This is likely the number one reason why so many hate the Saviour, even today. Not many people object to the good moral teachings and miracles of Christ, but as soon as a passage or verse is brought up that speaks of judgement and Christ’s disapproval of sin then anger and hate come out of their mouths. The real cause of offence in the Gospel, is the holiness of living which it demands (See, Romans 9:33, Galatians 5:11 and 1 Peter 2:8).

We should also observe from the passage the variety of opinions about Christ. We are told that “there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.” So long as the world stands there will always be people who love Him and hate Him, believe in Him and reject Him. The question that the text provokes us to ask is, what do we think of Christ?

Let us never be ashamed to be numbered among Christ’s believing people. May we love to hear His words, receive His blessings, and serve Him in the world. May we be those who are always ready to give an answer for our eternal hope and joy. May we be ready to confess Him before men. The wicked may hate us, as they hated the Saviour. The final judgment will testify that we chose wisely, lost nothing, and gained a crown of righteousness and glory that is reserved for us in Heaven.

Concerning Judgement and Motives (Verses 14-24)

One of the first things we learn from this portion of Holy Scripture is that honesty and obedience to the will of God is the only way to obtain clear spiritual knowledge. Our Lord said in verse 17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” Finding out the truth is a matter of studying the Scriptures and obeying what we read therein. We have no excuse for not knowing the truth, if we have a Bible and read it. Many will use the excuse that it is difficult to know and understand the Scriptures. However, this is not a valid reason to avoid seeking, searching, labouring and praying about learning sound doctrine. Christians have the Holy Spirit not only as a comfort, but as a teacher. Of course we have many good books and materials to aid our study, but we must not depend on the written works of gifted men and women and allow them to replace the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Instead of saying, as many do, “I must first know everything there is to know about the Bible, and then I will act.” We ought to have the attitude, “I will earnestly seek the Saviour day by day, and by doing so will learn more of Him and grow likewise day by day.” This approach will solve many battles and discouragements. Let us learn to follow on to know the Lord (1 Sam. 3:7, Hosea 2:20, 6:3). We must never forget that God deals with us as moral and intelligent beings, not as animals or stones. There are many plain things in the Bible. Let us concern ourselves with the clear things of Scripture and then we will be taught the deeper things of God. Whatever we may say about our inability to know the truth, you will not find a man who does not know better than he acts!

The second thing we learn in this passage is that a proud self-centred attitude is opposed to the mind and will of Christ. In verse 18 we find that the Saviour says, “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” False humility is self-centred; true humility is centred on God. The scribes and Pharisees of the time of our Lord sought praise and glory for themselves. On the other hand we have the Apostle Paul who wrote often about his personal humility and passion for Christ’s glory in all things. Listen to these quotations from his writings. Ephesians 3:8, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:9, “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 2 Corinthians 4:5, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” If anyone requires a test of discernment in this area let him note carefully the main object that a man loves to exalt.

A last point from this passage is the danger of harsh and hasty judgements. The Jews were fast to condemn our Lord as a sinner for breaking the law of Moses, because He had done a miracle of healing on the Sabbath. In their judgement of Christ they forgot that the fourth commandment did not prevent works of necessity and mercy. It is true that our Lord did indeed do a work on the Sabbath day, but not a work forbidden by the law. Our Lord said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement” (v24). It is easy to make the wrong judgement of a person or matter by simply judging on the appearance alone. Just because it looks to us in a particular way does not always mean that it actually is so. I am sure you can thing of a time when someone made a wrong judgement of you based on the appearance of a situation. Perhaps, you made a wrong judgement of someone based on appearance when you did not have all the facts necessary to make an informed judgement. We make judgements all the time. Some are of less importance than others. For example, what you wear in the morning or what to eat for breakfast is less important than the judgement we will make about a job opportunity or the person we decide to marry. We are often deceived by an appearance of good. We are often tempted to judge some men as very good Christians because they almost never miss a meeting on Sundays, or they may be very knowledgeable on matters pertaining to the Christian life.

However, the real test is what they are like at home, in private. Does their life match the one lived in public? We need to be careful when forming judgements in our minds. 1 Corinthians 2:15–16 reads, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” The Bible teaches that the spiritual man discerns all things through the mind of Christ and in accordance with the will of God. The spiritual man makes right judgements because he has the Spirit of God to aid him to examine a matter righteously. When the Bible says, “he himself is judged of no man” the Scriptures are referring to the natural man. With this in mind may we must take care not to give an unbeliever good cause to judge us.

When we think of others may we beware of making mistakes about our own character and conduct. It is easy to point out the faults and mistakes of others while being ignorant of our own failings and short comings. Let us be just, honest, and fair in our dealing with all men. Let us not fool or flatter ourselves that all is well because all seems to appear right before men. Remember the words of 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” Therefore, let us judge ourselves with righteous judgement, lest we be judged by the Lord. 1 Corinthians 11:31 reads, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

Christ’s Divinity Challenged (Verses 25-36)

One of the initial aspects that captures our attention is the deliberate ignorance of the non-believing Jews. They reject the idea of Jesus being the Messiah, stating, “We know where this man is from: but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” They were incorrect in claiming they “knew where our Lord came from.” Their assertion was based on the belief that He was born in Nazareth and thus regarded as a Galilean. However, our Lord was actually born in Bethlehem and belonged to the tribe of Judah. Both His mother and Joseph were from the lineage of David. The Jews could have discovered this if they had genuinely sought the truth. Records of genealogies and family histories were meticulously maintained by the Jews, making their ignorance inexcusable.

It was a widely recognized prophecy that everyone in the nation was aware of, that the Messiah would originate from the town of Bethlehem (refer to Mic. 5.2, Matt. 2.5, John 7.42).

Regrettably human memory often hinges on what is convenient and tied to earthly desires. In today’s world, countless individuals are just as oblivious and blind as the Jews were during Christ’s time. They shut their eyes and hearts to the clear truths and teachings found in Holy Scripture. They claim they do not comprehend, and thus cannot believe the essential elements of salvation. They refuse to accept what they prefer not to believe. They avoid reading or listening to the straightforward truths about Christ; instead, they fill their minds with everything except the truths of Scripture. The old saying holds true: “None are so blind as those who refuse to see.”

The passage highlights that God maintains control over all His adversaries. It notes that the unbelieving Jews aimed to seize our Lord, yet no one was able to touch Him because His time had not arrived. Although they wanted to apprehend Him, they were restrained by God; they lacked the ability to fulfill their intentions. This scripture indicates that all of Christ’s sufferings were voluntary and intended for God’s glory. Christ chose to endure suffering by His own will, not because He was powerless against evil men. The crucifixion was part of the divine plan within the Godhead. We should always remember that we exist in a world where God governs all times and occurrences, and nothing is left to chance but happens in accordance to God’s will. There are things that take place of which God does not approve. He is angry with the wicked every day (Psa. 7.11).

However, all things ultimately fall within God’s permissive will and are part of His overall plan. Satan’s dealings with Job provides a good example. We can find comfort in knowing that we are immortal until our mission on earth is complete. Our times are in the care of our loving Heavenly Father (Psa. 30.15). The hand of God, which manages and directs everything below, makes no errors. We have no reason to worry about the issues that trouble us. Instead, let us learn to surrender all our worries and burdens to the Lord.

A final point to note from this section is the fate that awaits unbelievers in the future. Our Lord tells His adversaries, “You will seek Me but will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” These statements from Christ carry a significant prophetic meaning. It remains uncertain whether Christ was referring to specific instances of unbelief among His listeners or anticipating the national regret that many experienced too late during the final siege of Jerusalem.

It is a neglected reality in today’s world that discovering the truth too late is indeed possible. Individuals may experience guilt for their sins, yearning for peace, concerns about Heaven, and fear of judgment and Hell – but this awareness comes too late. Once a fool disregards wisdom, wisdom no longer acknowledges the fool (1 Sam. 8:18). Proverbs 8:17 states, “I love those who love me; and those who seek me diligently will find me.” Unfortunately, many souls today continuously turn away from the light of God’s truth, thereby condemning themselves to eternal darkness and judgment. Let us heed the warnings presented to us. We should avoid the example of the unbelieving Jews, who fail to seek the Lord Jesus as their Saviour until it is too late. The door of mercy remains open. The arms of grace are still extended. The invitation for salvation through Christ is still available. Let us approach Christ before it is too late.

If Anyone Thirsts Let Him Come (Verses 37-39)

These verses hold some of the most valuable words found in all of Scripture. The Lord Jesus Christ states, “if any man thirst.” These words carry a spiritual significance; the thirst referred to here is a spiritual longing. It represents concern for one’s soul, an awareness of sin, and a yearning for peace of mind. When an individual recognises their sins and seeks forgiveness, they thirst for what they desire. The Jews who were moved by Peter’s sermon on Pentecost experienced this conviction in their hearts. Similarly, the Philippian jailer who asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” exemplifies this meaning; in both instances, there was a notable “thirst.”

We are flawed, mortal beings destined to die. One day, we will face judgement from God and be assigned to either Heaven or Hell for eternity. Consequently, every person—men, women, and children—should yearn for salvation. However, many chase after almost everything except salvation, pursuing money, wealth, pleasure, status, worldly power, and all things that will eventually disappear. The indifference and carelessness towards issues concerning the soul is clear evidence of humanity’s downfall and the corruption of human nature. It’s no surprise that the Bible describes the natural man as “blind,” “asleep,” and “dead,” given how few individuals are awake, alive, and truly seeking salvation.

Blessed are those individuals who recognise the spiritual longing that Christ speaks of in the scripture. The foundation of genuine Christian faith is rooted in a deep spiritual desire and thirst. Unless we acknowledge our state as lost sinners, we cannot accept the gift of salvation. The initial step towards heaven is understanding that we merit nothing but hell. This awareness of sin that brings us to conviction is a positive indication and a sign of spiritual vitality. According to Matthew 5:6, those who crave and yearn for righteousness are truly blessed.

These verses also reveal the solution for our sin. The Lord Jesus invites, “if anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” He proclaims Himself as the genuine source of life; the provider for all spiritual needs. He welcomes all who bear the weight of sin to approach Him and drink. In doing so, the thirst experienced is satisfied and fulfilled. The phrase, “Let him come unto Me.” is quite straightforward. It resolves a significant question that the intellect of Greek and Roman philosophers could never answer. It illustrates how one can attain peace with God and inner tranquillity. It emphasises that peace with God comes through faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. To come to Christ means to have faith in Him, and to have faith in Him means to approach Him. The solution may appear overly simplistic, but there is no alternative remedy to this.

The people of God throughout time and across different nations are those who, through faith, have partaken from the source of life and have been filled, healed, and are content. They have experienced forgiveness and fulfilment through the Saviour. Upon hearing the joyful message of the Gospel, they took action. They abandoned all trust in their own righteousness and approached Christ by faith as sinners. In doing so, they found comfort and relief. Unfortunately, many are too arrogant and indifferent to reflect on matters concerning their souls.

These verses also convey a promise. Our Lord and Savior stated, “Whoever believes in Me, rivers of living water will flow from their belly.” This statement is intended metaphorically. It shows us that everyone who approaches Christ will experience immense satisfaction in Him. Additionally, it indicates that believers will become a source of blessings for others. The realisation of this promise can be seen in believers today. They share with others about the joy, peace, hope, and comfort they discover in the Savior. However, the complete realisation of the other aspect of this promise will only occur on judgement day. That day will reveal the extent of goodness each believer has contributed during their lifetime. Some perform good deeds only while they are alive, while others continue to influence for good long after they have departed from this world and remain unseen by us. They positively impact through their writings and testimonies; the list of names is long. The legacy of their literature endures long after their passing. The materials and insights they recorded in ink serve as a blessing for the body of Christ today.

The question we should reflect on is: do we truly understand what it means to “come to Christ”? This is a concept we need to contemplate in our hearts after reading this Scripture passage. The most detrimental condition for our soul is to exist without a profound concern and longing for salvation. One of the gravest errors is to seek solace for the soul in anything or anyone other than Christ. While it is one thing to attend church, it is a completely different matter to approach Christ Himself. Blessed is the person who not only comprehends these truths but also lives by them.

Uselessness of Mere Head Knowledge (Verses 40-53)

The verses before us show the utter uselessness of mere head knowledge. Knowledge of spiritual things is good, but if it is not accompanied by grace in the heart it profit us nothing. For example, here we are told that some of our Lord’s hearers knew where Christ was to be born. They referred to the Scriptures, “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” (verse 42). Despite this, though their Messiah stood in their midst they neither received him, nor believed him. Their eyes were blind to the truth. They did not attempt to determine where he was actually born.

Knowledge of spiritual matters is of great value and importance. An “unknown God” can never be the object of true Christian worship. It would indeed be a great blessing if all we Christian people knew the Scriptures well. We must not think that it is enough to know the facts and doctrines of our faith. Unless our hearts are changed by the Word of God, the mere knowledge of the Bible is worthless. The devil himself knows Scripture and “believes and trembles” as James tells us (James 2:19). It is possible to quote Bible texts, and yet remain dead in our sins. Like many of the people our Lord preached to we may know the Scriptures well, and yet remain unfaithful and unconverted.

Heart knowledge we must always remember is the one thing needful. It is something that we cannot counterfeit. To sit daily at the feet of Jesus and humbly learn of Him is the highest degree of knowledge which mankind can attain to. No college or university degree is higher than true heart knowledge of spiritual matters. The knowledge that you receive through the Holy Spirit will last and benefit throughout a lifetime. A man may know nothing of Greek, Hebrew and Latin, yet his soul will be saved and nourished.

It would do the Church well if those in positions of leading and teaching would follow the ways of Christ. Let us remember that fancy language and a theatrical style of address was not the way of Christ. An eloquent simplicity is the best way of speaking. Christ spoke to his hearers in a plain and simple way. He taught them the truth of Scripture in words that all could understand. He told them the plain truth in plain words.

These verses also show us that in some cases the work of grace in the heart takes time. We are told that Nicodemus stood up in the Council, all or certainly most of whom were the Lord’s enemies and mildly pleaded the He was deserving of a fair dealing. In verse 51 the Bible says, “ Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?”

This man named Nicodemus is the same that came to Jesus by night as a diligent inquirer. When he came the first time he came by night and privately. Now he speaks publicly in the clearness of day to say something on our Lord’s side. We will do well to remember these things when speaking about other believers. Nicodemus was also involved in the burial of Jesus after He was crucified. John 19:39 says, “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.” We are often ready to condemn others on the account that their experience does not match our own. We must be aware of hasty and harsh judgments of others. Slow work is sometimes the most enduring. Better a little grace than none. Better a slow growing saint than one who stands still in sin and the world. May the Lord grant us wisdom and grace in each situation we encounter.