We are all alike in many ways: we get hungry; we get tired; we get thirsty. We have many needs that are alike: food, clothing, shelter. Of course these are physical needs. But in the spiritual area we are also all alike. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
My friend, that Scripture makes no exception. We are all alike. In all of human history only One lived who is different from us and yet like us. He lived here among men. They saw Him as a man and yet He was different. He is Jesus the Messiah.
What evidence do we have that HE IS DIFFERENT? We find the evidence in this Scripture: John 7:40-53.
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
53 And every man went unto his own house.
From this text we learn that the presence of Jesus started several MOVEMENTS in which we see the evidence that He is different.
The first Movement:
He Made a Division.
They wondered who He was. Some said, “He is the prophet.” By that they were referring to the quotation from Exodus where Moses said God was going to send them a prophet. In fact God said it to Moses, that He was going to raise up from among them a prophet like Moses. So they said, “He is the prophet.”
Then others said, “He is the Christ.” The word Christ means Messiah. They were expecting Him so some said, “This is the Messiah.” But they wondered at where He came from. They knew He came from Nazareth in Galilee and there was no record of any great prophet coming from Galilee. They had it right. They said the prophets said that the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem, David’s town, and from David’s seed.
Well, He was born in Bethlehem. In the genealogies in the Bible His family line goes back to David. The Bible says that because of this there was a division. He made a division. Oh, I find people today who are divided on who Jesus is. Is He the prophet? Is He the Messiah? Who is He? He made a division.
Jesus’ claims started a second Movement:
He Created a Discussion.
Some said, “Let’s arrest him; let’s take him.” But they were unsure what to do. Now the officers who had been sent to take Him came back without Him. They had not arrested Him. When they were asked why they hadn’t brought Him, they answered, “Nobody ever spoke like this man.” So they had a discussion. They talked it over. The Pharisees said, “Are you also deceived?” It was only the common people who believed in Him. “The rulers and the Pharisees don’t believe in Him, do they?” The common people, though unlearned, were trusting...
