4th week in Lent, Saturday – 28th March 2020 – John 7, 40-53
Challenge posed by Nicodemus
Nicodemus, one of the Jewish authorities, speaking on behalf of Jesus challenges the Pharisees: “Does our law allow judging someone before he is listened to?” Indirectly he wishes to say, before passing a word of judgment on Jesus, go and have a personal experience with him. He reminds his companions of the law to give Jesus a fair and thorough hearing, while other religious leaders have already made up their minds about Jesus. His question is ironic and seems to bring out doubt among his companions knowledge of law. They respond to Nicodemus mockingly and assert their seemingly superior knowledge of scripture. Though they are emphatic that no prophet is to arise from Galilee, this knowledge is faulty. The Scriptures do speak of the Galilean origins of Jonah of Gath-hepher and Nahum of Elkoshite. John intends to convey through this assertion on the part of the Pharisees that they had misunderstood both the origins of the Messiah and who he is. They rely on prior assumptions and expectations rather than judging Jesus on the based on what he reveals about himself.
