John 7:40

John 7:40, in plain English

Some people in the crowd start saying: This is truly the Prophet! They are recognizing that Jesus is the one Moses promised would come.

Why it's here

The crowd is starting to connect the dots. They may not have the full picture yet, but they sense that Jesus is someone special, someone promised long ago.

Who's speaking

Members of the crowd share their growing conviction about who Jesus might be.

Where it sits in the story

Faith often starts with a partial insight. These people recognized Jesus as the Prophet Moses predicted. It was not the whole picture, but it was a step in the right direction.

The scholarly reading

Part of the crowd identifies Jesus as ho prophētēs (the Prophet), referring to the eschatological prophet like Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18:15-18, a distinct messianic expectation from the Christ/King.

Language and setting

In Second Temple Judaism, the Prophet-like-Moses and the Messiah/Christ were sometimes viewed as separate figures (cf. John 1:20-21). Identifying Jesus as the Prophet is significant but falls short of full messianic recognition.

Voice

Some members of the crowd respond to Jesus' Tabernacles proclamation by identifying Him with a specific prophetic expectation.

Significance

Jesus' words have their impact. Some in the crowd recognize something profound: this is the Prophet Moses promised. It is a genuine insight, even if it does not capture the full reality of who Jesus is.

38Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

39He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

40On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.”

41Others declared, “This is the Christ.”

42Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”

Read all of John 7 — Jesus appears at the Festival of Tabernacles and divides the crowd. Some say he's a prophet, some say he's the Messiah, and some want him arrested.