Division over Jesus’ Identity

January 9

Throughout John 7, we see people arguing over Jesus’ identity. Is He the Messiah? Could He be the One?

Besides the questions, people also expressed their opinions: “He’s a good man.” (v. 12) “No, on the contrary, he’s deceiving the people.” (v. 12) The Jewish leaders asked, “How is this man so learned, since he hasn’t been trained?” (v. 15) “No man ever spoke like this.” (v. 46) Still, others said, “You have a demon, (v. 20) and, “Can it be true that the authorities know he is the Messiah? (v. 26)

Many people. Many opinions. Some key statements rise above others, and give us clues as to why there was so much debate on Who He was, and why there wasn’t more debate. “Nobody was talking publicly about him for fear of the Jews.” (v. 13) The average Joseph may have had his questions, but he dared not ask those questions out loud. The risk of facing the wrath of the Jewish leaders kept them silent.

Nicodemus rightly noted, “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?” Nicodemus had already encountered Jesus and some of His claims (see John 3). It seems that, at this point, Nic was a closet believer or at least an open-minded skeptic. His question about the application of the Law in Jesus’ case was met with accusations from other Jewish leaders that he was already convinced that Jesus was the Messiah.

Application

C.S. Lewis and other Christian apologists (defenders of the Christian Faith) since, like Josh McDowell, have insisted that Jesus was either a raging Lunatic, a Liar, or He was who He claimed to be: Lord. In his classic Mere Christianity, Lewis first presented this argument, which today is popularly known as the “Trilemma.” He insisted that one cannot say that Jesus was just a “good moral teacher” because Jesus didn’t leave us that option, and the more we examine the Gospel accounts, the more we find it really is that simple.

As you encounter people who have their own opinions and questions about Jesus, remember Lewis’ Trilemma argument and ask them these questions: “Lunatic, Liar, or Lord?” On that same note, who do you say that Jesus is? Would you be willing to bet your eternal destiny on your answer?

© Copyright 2026 Craig Beaman