The Opposition to King Messiah

After the stage of observation and interrogation the Sanhedrin made their official decision that Jesus was demon possessed (to see link click EkIt is only by Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons, that This Fellow Drives Out Demons). He was obviously performing miracles, but, He did not believe in the Oral Law. The rabbis taught that when the Messiah came He would not only believe in the Oral Law, but He would participate in the making of new oral laws. Being God and knowing that the Oral Law (see EiThe Oral Law) was merely the traditions of men (Mark 7:7), Yeshua would have nothing to do with it. Consequently, His claim of being the Messiah and the offering of the Messianic Kingdom was rejected. And because He did not believe in the Oral Law . . . they killed Him.

What happens in this next section is different. The masses gradually begin to accept the pharisaic explanation that the Lord was demon possessed. Therefore, the key phrase in this section is: the people were divided (John 7:43). It covers a three-month period in the last year of Christ’s ministry, from the Feast of Booths (or Sukkot) in October to the Feast of Dedication (or Hanukkah) in December. Only Luke and John cover this material, both emphasizing two different facets. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ ministry in the area of Judea in general, whereas John emphasizes His ministry in the Holy City of Jerusalem.926