John 7:46 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!"

NIV: "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards replied.

NASB: The officers answered, 'Never has a man spoken in this way!'

CSB: The servants answered, "No man ever spoke like this!"

NLT: We have never heard anyone speak like this!' the guards responded.

KJV: The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

NKJV: The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”

Jesus has generated heated disagreement (John 7:43), but the festival crowds (John 7:12–13) are unwilling to start a full-scale riot over His preaching (John 7:44). All the same, after being ordered to arrest Jesus, officials sent by the Pharisees come back empty-handed (John 7:32, 45). Even though they have legal authority, they decide not to follow through on their mission. Their excuse is not about civil unrest or confusion over who to bring in. Instead, the men tell the religious authorities that Jesus' words are the reason they chose not to arrest Him! Remarkably, Jesus' preaching during this episode is so compelling that, even for those who disagree with Him, arrest seems to be an inappropriate response.

This doesn't necessarily mean the men were converted. But something about the way Jesus spoke, and what He said, apparently made arrest seem like the wrong choice. The Pharisees might have described Jesus as a rebel or an angry troublemaker. In any case, what the officials found was not what they expected.

Naturally, this sends the Pharisees into something of a temper tantrum. This highlights one of the useful applications of this passage: understanding the mindset of Jesus' religious critics. This incident clearly shows the danger of letting ego, arrogance, or tradition guide one's spiritual life. The Pharisees will continue (John 7:47–49) to insult anyone who thinks differently than they do. In fact, they will even turn on one of their own (John 7:50–52).

John 7:37–52 shows how Jesus' public ministry challenges the traditional views of Judaism. This causes infighting among both the people and the Jewish leaders themselves. The people hear His words, see His miracles, and begin to wonder if Jesus really is the Promised One. Once again, the religious leaders attempt to arrest Jesus, but the officers are so impressed by His words that they leave Him alone. When Nicodemus, a Pharisee, makes a plea for due process, he is mocked and his suggestion is ignored. Moments such as this will eventually lead the Jewish leaders to extreme measures against Jesus.

Six months after the feeding of thousands, and the public debate which followed, Jesus plans to attend the Feast of Booths, also called the Festival of Tabernacles. Rather than going publicly, He chooses to arrive privately, and after His family. While teaching and preaching there, Jesus once again comes into conflict with local religious leaders. The crowds take note of His profound words, history of miracles, and the inability of the religious leaders to silence Him. This causes the people to openly question their spiritual leaders. This embarrassment is a milestone in the effort to permanently silence Jesus.

John chapter 7 is the beginning of the end of Jesus' public ministry. The feeding of thousands in chapter 6 was the pinnacle of His earthly popularity. That enthusiasm was dampened when Jesus explained the true meaning of His ministry. Here, in chapters 7 and 8, Jesus will confront His critics at a major Jewish festival, using metaphors drawn from ritual celebrations to highlight themes from His preaching. The following chapters include additional miracles and teachings from Jesus, as His eventual crucifixion draws nearer.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.