John 7:32-36

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Roger

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.

33 Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.

34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”

35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?

36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

The Pharisees hated Him, and especially that everyone was talking about Him (v.32). They sent soldiers for Him but they couldn’t touch Him. Instead, they listened to what He had to say (v. 45).

and then I go (v.33) — of His own will. They tried to get rid of Him. He said He would be with them until He chose to leave.

seek and not find (verse 34) — said to the Jewish people who would look for the Messiah.

not find me (verse 34) — because 1) He would be in heaven, and 2) their unbelief

They thought He was going to the Jews who lived among the Greeks throughout the Roman Empire and that He would teach the Greeks also (v.35).

  • Proverbs 1:24-28 — Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

  • Isaiah 55:6 — Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

  • Luke 13:24-25 — Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open for us,” and He will answer and say to you, “I do not know you, where you are from.”

Dispersion — used only here and in James 1:1 and in 1 Peter 1:1. Evidence that both James and Peter were writing to Jews.

Where I am you cannot come (v.36) — His deity, in heaven. This conversation took place six months before the cross.

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