When Jesus says that they want to kill Him, He means not only the concrete situation unfolding at that moment before the eyes of those listening to Him. Here the issue is His ministry as a whole and people's attitude toward it - not only those who heard Him at that specific moment, but also...
When Jesus says that they want to kill Him, He means not only the concrete situation unfolding at that moment before the eyes of those listening to Him. Here the issue is His ministry as a whole and people's attitude toward it - not only those who heard Him at that specific moment, but also all who considered themselves zealots for orthodoxy. Of course, on that very day when He spoke these words, no one was actually planning to kill Him. But Jesus understands: what He is doing can either be accepted or rejected - there is no middle ground here. And if it is rejected, then it can only be rejected together with Him, which means that those who reject it will have to try to get rid of Him - to kill Him.
They have no other way out: rejection of His words and of Himself must be carried through to the end, just as acceptance of both must be. For this is not about a new teaching and not even about a new religion; here is a new reality that He has brought into the world. One can refuse to accept a religion and ignore its adherents; one can decline to share a teaching and pay no attention to its followers. But it is impossible to pay no attention to the reality of the Kingdom and ignore it completely. Or rather, it is possible only if one can somehow get rid of that reality. And the first thing that comes to mind is to get rid of the One who brought this new reality into the world, since a conflict arises that cannot otherwise be resolved.
Jesus describes the problem very precisely by comparing healing on the Sabbath with circumcision on the same day. The first is unacceptable, the second quite permissible, although circumcision is only a sign of the covenant made with God, a tradition that in itself does not carry the spiritual component but only points to it, like every sign.
But here religion, this sign and its acceptance, has become a ritual prescription. And the Sabbath prohibitions over time also became ritual prescriptions, losing their original meaning: to give a person the opportunity to spend the day in rest, so that inward stillness might be added to outward quiet. In this case two rituals collide, and the collision is entirely resolvable. But healing on the Sabbath is a return to the spiritual foundations, to the original meaning of the Sabbath, which is precisely to spend the day with God. And now a healing takes place, a manifestation of the power of God and His Kingdom; and this is what turns out to be, for the zealots of orthodoxy, a violation of the religious norm.
This conflict is truly irresolvable. Here one must choose: either religious ritual or the Kingdom. And if ritual is chosen, then the Kingdom must be gotten rid of - as must the One who brought it into the world. That is why they want to kill Him, sometimes without even realizing it themselves. And He knows this, but such is His earthly path.
7
7:14 Now at the middle of the feast - Which lasted eight days. It is probable this was on the Sabbath day. Jesus went up into the temple - Directly, without stopping any where else.
7:15 How does this man know letters, having never learned? - How comes he to be so well acquainted with sacred literature as to be able thus to expound the Scripture, with such propriety and gracefulness, seeing he has never learned this, at any place of education?
7:16 My doctrine is not mine - Acquired by any labour of learning; but his that sent me - Immediately infused by him.
7:17 If any man be willing to do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God - This is a universal rule, with regard to all persons and doctrines. He that is thoroughly willing to do it, shall certainly know what the will of God is.
7:18 There is no unrighteousness in him - No deceit or falsehood.
7:19 But ye are unrighteous; for ye violate the very law which ye profess so much zeal for.
7:20 The people answered, Thou hast a devil - A lying spirit.Who seeketh to kill thee? - These, coming from distant parts, probably did not know the design of the priests and rulers.
7:21 I did - At the pool of Bethesda: one work - Out of many: and ye all marvelled at it - Are amazed, because I did it on the Sabbath day.
7:22 Moses gave you circumcision - The sense is, because Moses enjoined you circumcision (though indeed it was far more ancient than him) you think it no harm to circumcise a man on the Sabbath: and are ye angry at me (which anger had now continued sixteen months) for doing so much greater a good, for healing a man, body and soul, on the Sabbath?