John 7:45-52 (ESV)
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Jesus had caused quite a stir amongst the Jews with his comments on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, but the temple guards chose not to arrest him. It wasn’t because they were afraid to, although God’s providence was clearly running the show. They didn’t arrest Jesus because they were intrigued by him. “No one ever spoke like this man,” they exclaimed to their bosses, the Pharisees. These officers had heard many rabbis teach, but they never heard someone speak like Jesus. They were so impressed by the message of Jesus that they found it impossible to do their assigned work of arresting and silencing Him.
The Temple guards were willing to speak up!
The Pharisees berated the guards but went on to denounce the common people as well. “They hoped to shame and intimidate the officers who didn’t arrest Jesus with the idea all the smart and spiritual people don’t follow Jesus – neither should you” (Enduring Word commentary). Jesus’ popularity was increasing, and he was a serious threat to their power structure. If he could sway enough of the people to his side, there might be an uprising, and the Pharisees comfy little deal with their Roman occupiers would be jeopardized…as well as their high position amongst the Jews. The Pharisees were dripping with pride and this simple, untrained Galilean had become a serious threat. Something had to be done.
Into the fray entered Nicodemus, the Pharisee who had recently gone to Jesus by night with his questions and considerations. Clearly the Lord was working in his heart and mind (Jn. 6:44, remember?). He didn’t step up to the plate with a full-throated defense of the gifted man from Galilee…but at least he spoke up! Nicodemus tried to reason with his fellow Pharisees, warning them against judging Jesus improperly, but all they had for him was mockery. “Are you from Galilee too?” they sneered. “Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” They were dead wrong on that point, too. The prophet Jonah was from the Galilean countryside, as was the greatest prophet of them all, Elijah! Their pride had even blinded them from their own history.
Nicodemus was willing to speak up?
Have you ever been in a situation where people were mocking Christians or Christianity in general? Have you been in a group where gossip was weaving its destructive way through a good person’s reputation? Have you found yourself wanting to speak up…but lacking the courage to do so? Remember, friend…God will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6). The Holy Spirit will give you the words you need…when you need them (Lk. 12:12). Finally, we are commanded to:
- Contend for the faith (Jude 1:3)
- Give a defense to anyone who asks (1 Peter 3:15)
- Destroy arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:5)
- Correct those who oppose the word (Titus 1:9)
- Defend the Gospel (Phil. 1:16)
In short…Speak Up!
