“Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.”
My Notes
What Does John 7:40 Mean?
After hearing Jesus teach at the Feast of Tabernacles, many in the crowd reach a conclusion: "Of a truth this is the Prophet." They're referencing the Prophet like Moses that God promised in Deuteronomy 18:15 — a figure distinct from the Messiah in popular expectation, a new Moses who would speak God's words directly.
The crowd is close but not quite there. They've correctly identified Jesus as a prophet — and not just any prophet, but the Prophet. The unique, promised, Mosaic figure that Israel has been waiting for. But identifying Jesus as the Prophet doesn't go far enough. He's more than Moses' successor. He's Moses' Lord.
The division that follows (verse 41-43) reveals the crowd's uncertainty: some say Prophet, some say Christ, some object that the Messiah can't come from Galilee. They're all using the right categories. They just can't agree on which one fits — because Jesus exceeds all of them.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you stopped at a true-but-partial understanding of Jesus — prophet, teacher, good man — without reaching the full picture?
- 2.Why does the crowd's identification of Jesus as 'the Prophet' matter even though it's incomplete?
- 3.What category do you most naturally put Jesus in — and does it need upgrading?
- 4.How does Jesus exceed every category — Prophet, Messiah, Teacher — that people try to fit Him into?
Devotional
"Of a truth this is the Prophet." They were right. And they were short.
The crowd heard Jesus and landed on the Deuteronomy 18 promise: the Prophet like Moses. The one who speaks God's words directly. The new Moses for a new era. They weren't wrong. Jesus IS the Prophet. He's the fulfillment of Moses' prediction. He speaks God's word with even greater authority than Moses did.
But "the Prophet" doesn't go far enough. It's a true identification that stops short of the full truth. Jesus isn't just a prophet — even the Prophet. He's the Son of God. The Word made flesh. The one Moses worshipped, not just the one Moses predicted.
The crowd is doing what people still do: correctly identifying one dimension of Jesus while missing His fullness. He's a great teacher — true, but not enough. He's a prophet — true, but not enough. He's a good man — true, but not enough. Every true-but-partial identification of Jesus eventually needs to be upgraded to the full picture: He's God.
The Prophet category is real and important. But if you stop there, you've stopped short. The Prophet is also the Messiah. The Messiah is also the Son of God. The Son of God is also the I AM.
Where have you stopped in your understanding of Jesus? What correct-but-partial category are you resting in that needs to expand?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Others said, this is the Christ,.... The true Messiah, which they concluded, not only from the miracles, Joh 7:31, but…
The Prophet - That is, the prophet whom they expected to precede the coming of the Messiah - either Elijah or Jeremiah.…
Of a truth this is the Prophet - The great prophet, or teacher, spoken of by Moses, Deu 18:15, which they improperly…
In these verses we have,
I. Christ's discourse, with the explication of it, Joh 7:37-39. It is probable that these are…
Opposite Results of the Discourse
40. Many of the people, &c. According to the best authorities; Of the multitude,…