Jesus is still in Judea at the feast of booths after telling his brothers to go, he went alone and in private. According to the above verse, in the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and began to preach. The feast of booths was every seventh month on the fifteenth, for seven days. So, in the middle of the feats meant after about 3 days. In the last message, Jesus was accusing the Jews of being hypocrites who want to kill him for the very same thing that they were doing. Jesus told them to judge rightly when they judge.
John 7:25-36 (ESVST)
25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “ Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?
The above verses signifies that the people were starting to doubt even the authorities. They knew that the authorities wanted Jesus dead which confirms what Jesus was accusing them of. What the people could not understand was that, if they want to kill him, how come he can speak openly and they don’t arrest him. The issue here was if he is not the Christ then kill him, if he is the Christ then you won’t kill him. So, by doing nothing, the authorities were showing themselves how confused they are and even maybe by implication, comfirming Jesus as Christ.
27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.”
Only information regarding Messiah’s birthplace was revealed in Scripture (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:5–6). Beyond that, a tradition had developed in Jewish circles that Messiah would appear suddenly to the people, based on a misinterpretation of Mal. 3:1. In light of this, the meaning of this phrase most likely is that the identity of the Messiah would be wholly unknown until he suddenly appeared in Israel and accomplished Israel’s redemption. In contrast, Jesus had lived his life in Nazareth and was known (at least superficially) to the people. This confused the people who I believe wanted to believe in Jesus.
I can see the argument going, “ok, let’s say he is the Christ, what about the fact that the scriptures say that we will not know where he comes from. We do know where Jesus comes and we know his family as well, so, he cannot be the Christ. He does not fit the scriptures.
28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “ You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”
Jesus then answered them by saying, I accept that you know me and you know where I come from but, there is one thing that you don’t know and that is, I have not come of my own accord. Jesus said, you might know me or even know where I come from but, I have not come of my own accord. I am not here of my own authority. He said to them the one who send me is true (referring to God) and him, you don’t know. Jesus then told them that you don’t know him but, I know him, why, I come from him and he sent me. Jesus clearly indicating to them that it is not about wether you know me or where I come from. It is about who sent me and the fact that I know him for, I come from him.
30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
For this, the Jews wanted to arrest him but they could not since it was not Jesus time yet to be arrested. This shows God’s own will. This shows that only if God wills something, will it happen.
31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “ When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”
As people were arguing among themselves, many believed despite all these doubts that others had about Jesus whereabouts. They simply said, will the Christ who we say we are waiting for, do more miracles and signs than this man? They simply did not believe that and hence they believed that Jesus is the Christ.
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
Obviously the Jews authorities were not impressed by this and they decided to arrest him. They send officers to effect an arrest.
33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “ Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘ You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘ Where I am you cannot come ’?”
This shows how clueless the Jews were regarding the scriptures. Jesus was referring to the fact that he was not going to be on this earth for long but soon will be killed and will rise and go back to heaven and there, they cannot come. Once he is gone, they will seek him but they will not find him.