The personal recognition of our Lord is what we see is the main theme in this section. One of the great wonders of the Bible is the fact that during Jesus’ public ministry:
. His own brothers didn’t recognize His deity
. The educated religious leaders who studied the Word of God refused to submit their hearts to Him
. And most of the nation stood willing outside His outstretched loving arms.
What this brings into focus comes against our standard understanding of learning:
•Vs. 1-10 Brothers: We tend to think that familiarity to a subject brings acceptance but in this case familiarity brings about contempt.
•Vs. 11-12 Jews: We tend to believe that education and learning brings about understanding but in this case it brought about willing ignorance.
•Vs. 13-14, 20 Nation: We tend to think that continual contact with that which is good and beneficial causes personal application, but in this case it brought about rejection.
In each of these three groups of people what we would have thought would have brought about acceptance, understanding and application did in fact bring about the exact opposite response. And that being the case, we can see the reason for these negative responses lies within the heart of the student.