The crowds could no longer be held back. The threat of excommunication paled to the hope of their salvation through this Son of man, who, without a doubt now, was their long-awaited Messiah -- and a loving one at that. The "old guard" no longer could hold sway with their restrictive traditions over the lives of these transforming souls, many who had been touched, either by His personal hand for healing, or His simple words of promise and hope that He sounded so confident in. The weary and heavy laden, under their yoke of bondage to their many laws, had heard this Messiah's beckon call, and now were coming to the Rest He promised in His freedom. They could not all be put out of the synagogue, even if that mattered to them any longer. The degree of hope they felt in their hearts, combined with the security they sensed in their numbers, gave them the confidence to finally speak out and have their way. They have feared, kept silent, and waited long enough. Convinced this was Him, they would have their King! ( Mt.11:28-29, 7:13)

What else was there left for these godless rulers to do in the face of such overwhelming odds? If they can't control the crowd, then they must kill their Christ. And while at it, they will destroy again the witness He has restored to life. They will "show them who holds the power over life and death." So they think!

TRUTH:
SATAN ALWAYS ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THAT WHICH CHRIST HAS QUICKENED WITH HIS POWER FOR HIS GLORY AND MAN'S OWN BENEFIT. (This began in the Garden with the first man and continues to this day, as witnessed in the modern abortion movement.)

After Philip and Andrew brought Jesus the news that the Greeks (no longer just the Jew, but now Gentiles, called by the Jew, "God-fearers") were coming to Him to hear this message of hope for salvation for all peoples, Jesus states that His Hour and Purpose has now clearly come. He must return to the dust in order to become the Vine that the Veil be rent, that all mankind (Jew and Gentile alike) may forever have direct access to the Father through the Son (through faith in Him and His atoning act). He will reunite man with man, and with their Maker, adopted as a son back to the Father at long last. What the first Adam did not maintain and lost, the Second Adam (Christ) will regain. (Rom.5:14-21; I Co.15:21,22,45-49; Acts 1:8) Through the first man, division and death came; through this Man, reunion and life comes. ( Lk.23:45, Heb.4:14-16, Heb.6:19, Heb.10:7-22)

Eternal life is possible only when one releases this life born of the first Adam to the reign of the Second, born of God, truly the King of kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Captain of that man's soul, who no longer lives life unto self, but is given over in service for the Master, born again by the will of the Father and the blood of Christ. ( Ro.12:1-2)

The emphasis should be noted on the punctuation of Jesus' first words: a question. Here, I believe, is, not a doubt with respect to Himself, nor a part of His prayer prayed, as most see it, but a rhetorical question addressed to His hearers, much like that of Peter's earlier question in a perplexing situation, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" -- then His emphatic statement that followed. Likewise, Jesus emphatically states following His question, "but for this cause came I unto this hour."

"A VOICE FROM HEAVEN" This is the 3rd recorded audible enunciation of approval from God concerning His Son:

This will be His last. He will be silent when His Son hangs upon the Cross. One cannot imagine the scene in Heaven at that moment. Here, the Earth shook, His creation wept; there the foundation of His Throne must have trembled, and all bowed in suspended silence for that eternal moment, only to give way to rejoicing, such that Heaven has never seen, when it is shouted, "He Is Risen!" If the angels sang at His birth, they must surely have danced in renewed ecstasy at His Resurrection! It was finished! He would be coming Home soon, bringing with Him all His many recovered treasures, Heaven's Gates swung wide for His Triumphal Re-Entry into His Eternal City. Only those who had ears to hear understood what the Father said, that their faith might be strengthened.

Again He speaks to the Power and Purpose of His Light, but now withdraws it from them. He is finished with them. By their own chosen course, they will remain in their darkness, unhealed by the Great Physician. He will summarize His purpose in coming in His own words following their next confrontation (vs.44-50):