John 7: 11-13
‘ Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”
Among the crowds, there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.’
Jesus knows the hearts of people, and he knows what is going on when others do not. In verse 1 of this chapter, it says, “He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.” Maybe by giving his brothers the idea that he was not going to go to the festival, he was really protecting them from being put in a situation where they would have to betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders. Now they could honestly say, “He is not here,” if asked.
But what about the drama in Jerusalem? Everyone is talking about Jesus and apparently, everyone is afraid to be heard talking about Jesus. The Jewish leaders are on the lookout for Jesus because… (going back to verse 1) … they “were looking for a way to kill him.” Jesus was in everyone’s thoughts at the festival.
Q: Given that the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill Jesus but not saying that publicly, and that the public was talking about Jesus but not wanting the Jewish leaders to know that they were; who was practicing deceit?
They’re not being deceitful, they’re being politically correct. It’s a nice game we play. It really seems like all party’s know what’s going on without talking about it. However, they misunderstand who Jesus is.
Politics is a messy pursuit. Trying to appear a certain way when things are not that way is the essence of deceit. The Pharisees were professionals when it came to deceit and playing the political game. They did this to keep control. Jesus is not such a game player and refuses to play by their rules. An escalating conflict is inevitable. One Jesus knows is going to happen. While He is not participating in deceit, He is in control.