“but we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” so Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “you know me, and you know where i come from. but i have not come of my own accord. he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. i know him, for i come from him, and he sent me.” [john 7:27-29]
question of the origin of Jesus
in Jesus’ day, many rabbis taught the belief that the messiah would appear “suddenly” in such a way that the jews would not know who his parents were. the idea that the messiah would come suddenly is suggested in malachi 3:1, but that gives no indication that his parents would be unknown. support for that really only comes from apocryphal (non-credible, non-biblical) texts that use metaphors for the messiah’s coming that refer to him “coming out of the sea” or as “roots in dry land” which suggest him coming suddenly, with unknown family origin. even those suggestions make little sense, as the biblical prophetic texts make it clear that the messiah would be born in bethlehem, in the line of david, which was understood in Jesus’ time.
Jesus’ response
like when Jesus responds to the pharisees observing non-biblical traditions and rules, he doesn’t really get into the “weeds” of their over-complicated speculations on minor issues. instead, he turns their argument on it’s head: you may know where i was raised, but you don’t know the one who sent me! the jews were stuck looking at the physical, but Jesus is trying to point them to the eternal. they are too stuck arguing in circles over the washing of hands and endless genealogies to see God in the flesh right in front of them!
you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they who bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. – Jesus [john 5:39-40]
in what complicated pit are you trying to find Jesus? what barriers have you allowed the enemy to put up to bar your eyes from looking upon the one who gives life? God is not found only at the end of deep study: he is found all around! if you have been washed by the blood of Jesus, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit—the very person of God! God himself lives inside every believer, and he is listening. he is speaking; he intercedes on our behalf; he guides us into all truth! Jesus took the initiative and came to us while we were still sinners, dying to restore us to relationship with the Father. and it was better that he ascended back to heaven, so that we could receive the Holy Spirit! do not make the mistake of the pharisees: for the saved, God’s presence is with you right now!
draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. [james 4:8]
and i will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. you know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. [john 14:16-17, emphasis added]
~ stephen hall