Division! #2

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

“So there was a division among the people because of him” (John 7:43 KJV).

As it was then, so it is today!

Reactions to Christ’s earthly ministry were just as varied 2,000 years ago as they are now. “And 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” (John 7:12). “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him” (verses 40-44, today’s Scripture in context).

Chapter 9, verse 16, presents that striking contrast too: “Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.” Upon hearing His Parable of the Good Shepherd, there is a third schism amongst the Jewish people in the Book of John (verses 19-21 of chapter 10): “There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?”

Some viewed the Lord Jesus in a positive light, while others felt just as strongly in their negative appraisal of Him. Why is there such disagreement? The reason for these rifts or splits could not be clearer: doctrine divides. Not everyone is willing to join Almighty God in His purpose and plan for Israel. On one hand, there is faith; on the other, there is unbelief. These are the two general reactions to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Even today, some will esteem the truths of Scripture just as fervently as others will spurn them….