05.20.2016 New Testament: John 7.52

To read the Bible in a year, read John 7.32–53 on May 20, In the year of our Lord 2016

By Don Ruhl

Nicodemus spoke up for Jesus at a meeting of the Jewish Council that was wanting to silence Jesus. After Nicodemus questioned whether the Law condemned someone without first hearing from that person,

They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee” (John 7.52).

They sounded bold and confident. Yet, if you investigate, you will discover the prophecy of Isaiah 9.1–2 that Galilee would see a great light, and that Jonah the prophet came from Gath Hepher, just West of the Sea of Galilee.

Therefore, call someone’s bluff and you may find out that is precisely what they were doing, bluffing.

Questions:

• If I had not provided Isaiah 9 and Jonah’s hometown, would you have known how to find out whether a prophet had arisen out of Galilee?
• Why do you think God had Jesus grow up in the Galilee region instead of Jerusalem?