And many of the people believed on him and said When Christ cometh will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?John 7:31 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: Many people saw what Jesus did and started to trust him; they wondered whether the coming Messiah would do even greater miracles than Jesus had shown. - Big idea: People began to believe in Jesus based on his signs, but their belief was mixed and shaped by expectations about the Messiah. - Key points: - The crowd’s belief is tied to Jesus’ miracles (called “signs” in John) rather than a full understanding of who he is. - Jewish expectations of the Messiah influence how people interpret Jesus’ works. - John’s gospel uses these “signs” to push readers from mere amazement to real, informed faith. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: John 7 occurs during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Jesus is in Jerusalem, teaching and performing works that divide opinion. Verse 31 stands amid debates about Jesus’ origin and identity—some believe, some reject, and religious leaders maneuver against him. - Story timeline: First-century Judea, at a major Jewish festival. The immediate audience is the crowd in Jerusalem—ordinary people, some who have seen Jesus’ earlier miracles, and religious leaders who oppose him. The narrator of John reports the mixed reactions. - Surrounding passage: - Just before (John 7:28–30): Jesus speaks openly in the temple. Many are astonished by his teaching; the Jewish leaders seek to arrest him but fail because “his hour had not yet come.” - Verses 31–33: Verse 31 notes that many believed and asked if the Messiah would do more miracles than Jesus. Verses immediately after (vv. 32–34) report that the Jewish leaders send officers to arrest Jesus; Jesus predicts he will soon be taken away (his “hour” hasn’t yet come). ## Explanation - Quick take: People are impressed by Jesus’ miracles and some begin to believe, but their belief is often provisional—rooted in signs and shaped by preexisting ideas about what the Messiah should be. - In Depth: - “Many of the people believed on him”: In John’s Gospel, belief often appears in degrees. Some people believe because they see signs; others come to a deeper faith that recognizes Jesus as the Son of God. John keeps highlighting this tension. - “When Christ cometh”: The crowd speaks as if the Messiah (Christ) is still awaited in the future. Jewish expectations of the Messiah varied—some expected a political liberator, others a wondrous deliverer. The question shows that even those who believe Jesus’ miracles haven’t yet fully connected Jesus with their full expectations of the Messiah. - “Will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?”: The people compare Jesus’ works to expectations of the Messiah. John often calls miracles “signs” (Greek sēmeia) to stress their role: they point to Jesus’ identity and mission. The crowd’s question reveals both admiration and uncertainty—admiration for the works, but uncertainty about whether these works prove that Jesus is the definitive Messiah. - Theologically, John uses episodes like this to move readers beyond spectacle: signs are meant to lead to true belief (John 20:30–31). The crowd’s partial faith warns readers not to settle for mere amazement at miracles without recognizing and following Jesus’ deeper claims. ## Key Words - pisteuō (πιστεύω) — “to believe, to trust”; in John it ranges from simple assent to trusting allegiance. - Christos (Χριστός) — “the Anointed One,” the Messiah; a title loaded with Jewish hopes and expectations. - sēmeion (σημεῖον) — “sign”; John prefers this word to “miracle” to emphasize purpose: signs point to who Jesus is. - poieō (ποιέω) — “to do, to perform”; often used in the Gospels about doing works or signs. ## Background - Cultural/historical: The Feast of Tabernacles was a major pilgrimage festival when Jerusalem swelled with pilgrims and expectations were high. In that climate, remarkable acts by a teacher/prophet (like Jesus) stirred public discussion about messianic arrival. - Literary: John organizes episodes (signs) to reveal Jesus gradually. The Gospel often contrasts public opinion with the private conviction of true disciples, showing how many respond to signs without grasping their full meaning. ## Theology - Theological insights in plain language: - Signs point to identity: Jesus’ miracles aren’t only wonders; they are intended to reveal who he is. - Mixed belief is common: seeing is helpful, but seeing alone doesn’t always lead to life-transforming faith. - Messianic expectations shape reception: people hear Jesus through the lens of what they expect the Messiah to be. ## Application To Your Life - For workers: Don’t trust only impressive results or external success. Look beyond “signs” (achievements, promotions) to the character and long-term faithfulness of leaders and colleagues. - For parents: Teach kids that God sometimes shows his power in big ways, but the heart’s trust matters more than amazement. Encourage questions and growing understanding rather than assuming a one-time experience equals lasting faith. - For seekers: If extraordinary experiences attract you, use them as invitations to investigate Jesus’ teaching and life, not as endpoints. - For small-group leaders: Use this verse to explore the difference between emotional/experiential faith and a steady, informed trust. - Reflection questions: - When has a powerful experience led you to believe something—but then you wrestled with doubts later? - What expectations about God or the Messiah shape how you interpret spiritual experiences? - Short prayer: Jesus, help my faith grow beyond amazement—teach me to trust you for who you are, not just for what you do. ## Translation Comparison - KJV: “And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?” - NIV: “Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, ‘When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man has?’” - ESV: “And many of the people believed in him. They said, ‘When the Christ comes, will he do more signs than these that this man has done?’” - NLT: “Many people believed in him. ‘When the Messiah comes,’ they said, ‘will he do more miraculous signs than this man has?’” - Why differences matter: Some translations use “believed on him” (KJV) vs. “believed in him” (modern versions)—a small language shift but the same general idea of trust. More importantly, translations render the Greek sēmeia as “miracles,” “signs,” or “miraculous signs.” John prefers “signs” to underline that these works point to Jesus’ identity, not just to produce wonder. ## FAQs - Q: Did these people truly believe in Jesus? Short answer: They believed in a basic, limited way. John’s Gospel often shows people who believe because of signs but haven’t yet embraced Jesus’ full identity or followed him. Their question—wondering whether the Messiah will do more—shows admiration for Jesus’ works but uncertainty about whether he is the Messiah in the full sense they expect. John wants readers to move from tentative belief based on spectacle to wholehearted faith grounded in Jesus’ person and teaching. - Q: Why didn’t the crowd immediately recognize Jesus as the Messiah since he did miracles? Short answer: Messianic expectations varied. Many Jews expected a political liberator or a certain type of public deliverer. Jesus’ manner, timing, and message didn’t fit every expectation. Also, John emphasizes that signs are meant to reveal deeper truths; some people saw the signs but interpreted them through preconceived ideas, so they missed the full meaning. Finally, spiritual recognition often requires openness to Jesus’ claims about himself, not just amazement at miracles. ## Cross References - John 2:11 — Jesus’ first sign at Cana leads his disciples to believe in him (signs leading to belief). - John 6:14–15 — After the feeding of the 5,000, people want to make Jesus king, showing political messianic hopes. - John 20:30–31 — John says his signs are recorded so readers may believe that Jesus is the Messiah and have life in his name. - Matthew 11:2–6 / Luke 7:18–23 — Jesus points to his works as fulfillment of messianic signs: healings and liberation as indicators of Messiahship. ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators note that John intentionally records mixed reactions to Jesus—some believe on account of signs, others remain opposed. The phrasing “this man” can sound dismissive, but it also reflects ordinary speech. Scholars highlight how John’s theology of “signs” frames miracles as revelatory acts, and they point to the festival context (Sukkot) as a time when messianic hopes run high, sharpening public debate. - Group study bullets: - Read John 7:1–36 together, then map the different responses to Jesus (belief, skepticism, hostility). - Discuss: What makes someone’s belief deep and lasting? How do signs help or hinder true faith? - Role-play: One person plays a festival-goer amazed at signs; another plays a skeptic with strong messianic expectations. Talk through their questions. - Application: Identify modern “signs” people chase (miracles, celebrity pastors, programs) and discuss how to evaluate them biblically. ## Related verses (compare and contrast) - John 2:11 — Why: an early example of a sign that leads to belief among Jesus’ followers; compare the disciples’ response with the crowd’s later response. - John 6:14–15 — Why: shows the crowd’s political messianic expectations and willingness to follow Jesus for the wrong reasons (bread/kingdom). - John 20:30–31 — Why: John explicitly states the purpose of the signs—to bring people to believing in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, which is the deeper faith John aims for. ## Talk to the Bible Try using the “Talk To The Bible” feature to explore this verse further. Suggested prompts: - “Explain how John uses the word ‘sign’ differently from ‘miracle’ and why that matters in John 7:31.” - “Compare how crowds respond to Jesus’ signs in John 2, John 6, John 7, and John 20.” - “Help me craft a short talk on why experiencing God isn’t the same as trusting him, using John 7:31.”
