Until He comes again, whenever the claims of Jesus are faithfully presented, there will always be “a division among the people” (v 43). It was true during Jesus’ own lifetime, as shown in the second half of John 7. It was also evident in the days of the early church, and in every century since, including our own. Tell religious folk that they don’t actually know God, and they’re likely to take offense. Yet this was Jesus’ approach when speaking with the most devout, privileged, and well-taught people of His day. The scribes and Pharisees were diligent students of the Scriptures, yet Jesus looked them in the eye and said, “You don’t know God. That’s why You want to kill Me. I know God. I’m from God. God sent Me. Since you don’t know God, you can’t recognize Me.” It wasn’t any more popular to say it then than it is today. But no matter how committed people may be to their religious beliefs and practices, if they do not love and honor Jesus for who He really is, they do not know God (v 25-31). Every attempt to arrest Jesus fails until He is ready to voluntarily offer up His life at the appointed time. He tells unbelievers they will be unable to find Him when He returns to the One who sent Him. His followers will follow Him right into heaven (13:36; 14:2-3), but those who reject Jesus will never come to the place where He is going. Our culture prefers to think that we’ll all make it to heaven; even some preachers give that impression. But not Jesus (v 32-36). Still, He extends a gracious offer to all, even those who are trying to kill Him: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” Religious or not, if your soul is thirsty, you may come to Jesus for eternal life. As you welcome a bottle of water to quench your physical thirst, welcome Jesus to quench your spiritual thirst. Drink Him in; receive Him. Trust in Him and you will be satisfied forever. His Spirit will dwell within you like a replenishing spring, an ever-flowing fountain of peace and joy. These “rivers of living water” will not only refresh your own soul, they will flow from you to bless others also (v 37-39). So how did Jesus’ sermon go over with the congregation that day? Some people knew there was something special about this Preacher, but others were still scratching their heads. They had done enough research to know that the Christ would come from Bethlehem, but not enough to know that this was exactly where Jesus was born. So the people are divided. Religious leaders use intimidation and manipulation to maintain their own power and discourage those who may have been drawn to Jesus. But the irony is plain: the truly deceived are the ones boasting they have not been duped (v 40-52). For further meditation: