What a difficult time to be a Jewish leader. The Romans had the people under a law and rule they detested. The common man was happy neither with the ruling council nor the Romans’ constraints, and now this newcomer shows up with a voice and message that stirs the community. The message he brings is about the prophet that they themselves believed was coming, the Savior who was to release them from this Roman government and free them to rule themselves under their own set of laws – laws that were begun centuries ago. But something was not quite right. This new teacher did not come from the right town. He was not trained as they were in the Law and its very specific rules. He seemed to have his own understanding, or even a relationship, with Law and the Scriptures. It was almost as if he knew the texts better than they did. Yet at the same time the crowds were anxious to hear what he had to say, anxious to understand why his message had such hope and transparency. They were all thirsty for these living waters he talked about.The leaders had sent some of their own into the streets to put him in line and bring him before the true rule makers. When these guards returned to report, it was as if they too had been caught in the man’s spell. Once again the rulers were looking not at the relationship their Father sought; they were more concerned about themselves and their hard-earned status. Jesus had come to bring a relationship with Yahweh, and since he had such an intimate relationship with the Father, he alone could bring that to everyone. To each of those who said, “No one ever spoke the way he does,” one of two reactions occurred: an amazement and desire to enter into a relationship with the Father, or a rejection of that relationship. It is as simple as that: we either accept what Jesus says or we reject it.