The temple discourse begins anew with a notice that Jesus cried out. This second announcement (vv. 28–29), like the first (vv. 16–19), initiates an encounter with the crowd, yet itself comes as a response to something already expressed. As verses 16–19 addressed the question that perplexed the religious authorities in verse 15, so verses 28–29 address the debate among the people of Jerusalem in verses 25–27.

Specifically, they address the objection that Jesus cannot be the Messiah because everyone knows where he comes from. It is true; they know where he is from, geographically. But Jesus’ real origin is not a place but a person, he who sent me, a Person known to Jesus but unknown to them. In this sense Jesus fits the profile of a Messiah of whom it is said “no one will know where he is fro…