12
There was a lot of contentious talk about him circulating through the crowds. Some were saying, "He's a good man." But others said, "Not so. He's selling snake oil."
13
This kind of talk went on in guarded whispers because of the intimidating Jewish leaders.
14
With the Feast already half over, Jesus showed up in the Temple, teaching.
15
The Jews were impressed, but puzzled: "How does he know so much without being schooled?"
16
Jesus said, "I didn't make this up. What I teach comes from the One who sent me.
17
Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up.
18
A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality.
19
It was Moses, wasn't it, who gave you God's Law? But none of you are living it. So why are you trying to kill me?"
20
The crowd said, "You're crazy! Who's trying to kill you? You're demon-possessed."
21
Jesus said, "I did one miraculous thing a few months ago, and you're still standing around getting all upset, wondering what I'm up to.
22
Moses prescribed circumcision - originally it came not from Moses but from his ancestors - and so you circumcise a man, dealing with one part of his body, even if it's the Sabbath.
23
You do this in order to preserve one item in the Law of Moses. So why are you upset with me because I made a man's whole body well on the Sabbath?
24
Don't be nitpickers; use your head - and heart! - to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right."
25
That's when some of the people of Jerusalem said, "Isn't this the one they were out to kill?
26
And here he is out in the open, saying whatever he pleases, and no one is stopping him. Could it be that the rulers know that he is, in fact, the Messiah?
27
And yet we know where this man came from. The Messiah is going to come out of nowhere. Nobody is going to know where he comes from."
28
That provoked Jesus, who was teaching in the Temple, to cry out, "Yes, you think you know me and where I'm from, but that's not where I'm from. I didn't set myself up in business. My true origin is in the One who sent me, and you don't know him at all.
29
I come from him - that's how I know him. He sent me here."
30
They were looking for a way to arrest him, but not a hand was laid on him because it wasn't yet God's time.
31
Many from the crowd committed themselves in faith to him, saying, "Will the Messiah, when he comes, provide better or more convincing evidence than this?"
32
The Pharisees, alarmed at this seditious undertow going through the crowd, teamed up with the high priests and sent their police to arrest him.