Jesus does not permit neutrality. Either we love him or we hate him, but with Jesus, there can be no third option of mere toleration. In the earlier parts of Jesus’ ministry, it may have seemed for a time that such a third way might offer the best of both worlds—enjoying ongoing fascination with the extraordinary signs of wonder-worker, while nevertheless remaining aloof enough to avoid losing respectability in society. The closer Jesus gets to the cross, the clearer he becomes about his identity in a way that draws those who love him increasingly close and simultaneously drives those who hate him increasingly far away. The reason for this is that Jesus has come on a very specific mission, to accomplish a very specific purpose, and demanding a very specific response. John 7:25-52 demonstrates that the Father sent the Son to give the Spirit to believers.