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Lesson 33: John 7:40-53

John 7:40-53
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. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. And every man went unto his own house.

Related Scriptures
Proverbs 16:18
Micah 5:2
Luke 1:30-32
Luke 2:1-7
John 19:38-40

Questions

1. Think back to the last lesson, or look up John 7:37-39 in the Bible. What did Jesus say to cause people to think that He was either a special prophet or the Christ?
2. a. What reason did others give for not thinking that Jesus was the Christ? b. Where was Jesus born? c. Who does Luke 1:31-32 indicate was one of His ancestors? d. Was the reason given for doubting Jesus valid, then?
3. Why didn’t the officers arrest Jesus?
4. a. Was the fact that the Pharisees and rulers didn’t believe in Jesus a good reason not to believe in Him? b. Did the pride of these men bring them to God? c. Which of the related Scriptures might have saved them from this serious mistake?
5. We also see prejudice in this text. Was the fact that Jesus and many of His friends came from Galilee a good reason to doubt them?
6. We read about Nicodemus in John chapter 3. Now we see him again. Based on his defense of Jesus and his actions in John 19, do you think that he was a believer in Jesus?