40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard the words of Jesus, said, “This is truly the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “What, does the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. 44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him. 45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”

46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”

47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you? 48 Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? 49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed.”

50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”

52 They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

53 Everyone went to his own house.

John 7:40-53 - World English Bible

In John 7:28-29, Jesus implicitly made a distinction between physical origin and source of power. The populace reacted to his claims by confusing the distinction. "Where would the Messiah come from?" some wondered. "It couldn't be Galilee," many insisted After all, the Christ would be the son of David (2 Samuel 7:12), born in Bethlehem, the birth place of the great king (Micah 5:2). Yet, many believed.

The controversy froze the Temple guard (the de facto police of Jerusalem). Many among their ranks were spellbound by his words. The religious leaders rejected Jesus and his following, indeed, the people themselves; "This multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed.” A Pharisee named Nicodemus tried to defend Jesus, but was rebuffed' "No prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” (Of course, the leaders ignored Elijah and Elisha.)

When the leaders went home, the die was cast. Jesus had to be put to death.

Sometimes, controversies blow up over misunderstandings. Jesus stressed the source of his power, not his linage. Yet, the leaders didn't care for such details. Instead, they spun him as a charlatan and planned to kill him. Spin and the hype can confuse issues. If we are followers of Jesus, we must cut through both by keeping our focus on him.

Have you been tempted to make comments about the latest controversy? How do these fights distract you from your focus on the Lord?