Seeking to Capture Jesus - John 7:30

John the apostle wrote how the Jewish people in Jerusalem began to wonder about Jesus, “Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaks boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man from where he is: but when Christ comes, no man knows from where he is. Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, You both know me, and you know from where I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom you know not But I know him: for I am from him, and he has sent me”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty of his book, John shared how the Jews, “sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him” where we read:

Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

The verse reads, “Then they sought to take him:” John began with the words, “Then they sought” or “at that time the Jewish people looked for, craved, demanded and required” “to take him” which means “to lay hold of, capture, seize and apprehend Jesus”. John shared how the Jewish people, particularly the religious leaders, were seeking for an opportunity to “seize and capture” Jesus.

The verse continues, “but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.” John added the words, “but no man” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover not one person male or female” “laid hands on him” or “cast or stretched forth their physical hands upon Jesus”, “because his hour” which means “since and on account that Jesus certain and definite time” “was not yet come” or “had not arrived, appeared or arisen”. John shared how no one would put their “hands” upon Jesus to capture Him because the “time” for doing so had not “arrived” yet.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how the Jewish people within Jerusalem were attempting to “capture” Jesus, however, no one would touch Him because the time for this to happen had not arrived. God had a plan to provide “salvation” through His Son Jesus for all of mankind, but He had specific timing for every part of Jesus' life. God loves people, and He wants them to believe and trust in His Son Jesus so He can forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise will understand to what great lengths God the Father and His Son Jesus went so every person may have an opportunity to have a personal relationship with God.

Next time John shares how, “many of the people believed on him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".