May 3, 2023

Misunderstanding Predictions

“The Jews then said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? What is this statement that He said, You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come?’” John 7:35-36 (NASB)

      I wonder what weather people mean when they say there is a 40% chance for rain? Does this mean how much rain is coming today? Is it limited to just my area? Do they guess they have a 40% percentage chance of being correct? I know these questions are silly, but I know many of us would not be employed if we were incorrect this much. It’s almost like horseshoes and hand grenades; just get close. I learned if they say there is no chance of rain, I better get my umbrella.

      “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He?” The term “Dispersion among the Greeks,” is a term for those Jews who lived beyond the sea and had integrated into the outside world. 1 Peter 1:1 describes these who were “scattered,” or better known as strangers of the dispersion. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…” “The word ‘Dispersion is avoided in this translation since it is of zero meaning for most English readers. However, it is possible to understand this phrase in a somewhat different way. That is, ‘the Greeks’ may be taken to refer to a group larger than those persons of Greek nationality; it may refer to all persons in the Roman world who were influenced by Greek culture and so could be loosely referred to as ‘Greeks.’” [1] The word “Greeks” here is the word, “Hellēn” meaning a Greek, usually a name for a Gentile.[2] This word is seen in biblical studies reveals those as Hellenistic Jews, as H. D. Spence describes, “Another word, ‘Grecian’ or ‘Hellenist,’ is used for the Jews who had adopted Greek ideas, habits, and speech.”[3] To understand this a little further, we have to understand those who had been dispersed over time adopted ideas, habits, language, and culture. These “Greeks” were millions of outcasts, who might respond to Jesus’ message, if Jesus left, but it wasn’t what Jesus was talking about at all.

      Those who would look for Jesus “will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come?” Their unbelief and rejection of Jesus would allow them to shut their hearts to the gospel message, thereby hindering their ability to approach God. Calvin says, “Hence let us learn that we ought to receive Christ without delay, while he is still present with us, that the opportunity of enjoying him may not pass away from us.”[4] The Jews were more concerned about Jesus moving somewhere else, than listening to the Savior of the world. They spent their time predicting Jesus movement, not listening. Don’t miss this. Jesus will not always strive with man.

Genesis 6:3 “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh…”

There is a certain point beyond which He will not go for sufficient reasons known fully to Himself, partly to us. Two of these we are to notice for our instruction.

1. He will not touch the free agency of His rational creatures. He can put no force on the volitions of men. An involuntary or compulsory faith, hope, love, obedience, is a contradiction in terms, and anything that could bear the name can have no moral validity whatsoever.

2. After giving ample warning, instruction and invitation, He will, as a just judgment on the unbelieving and the impenitent, withdraw His Spirit and let them alone.

(Prof. J. G. Murphy.)[5]

[1] Barclay Moon Newman and Eugene Albert Nida, A Handbook on the Gospel of John, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993), 242–243.

[2] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

[3] H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., St. John, vol. 1, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 316.

[4] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Gospel according to John, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 304–305.

[5] https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/murphy/why_god's_spirit_will_not_always_strive.htm