John 7:27

“However it is, we know from where this man comes. But when the Messiah comes, no one will know from where he comes.”

This, however, raised a further problem for them. There were differing views about the origin of the Messiah. Some said his origin would be unknown, others that he would be born in Bethlehem. These, being inhabitants of Jerusalem, were clearly of the former view (compare John 7:42 for the other view). This view is mentioned in the Mishnah. In Sanhedrin 97a Rabbi Zera taught, "Three come unawares - Messiah, a found article, and a scorpion." To these people the Messiah would suddenly appear as from nowhere, having previously been unknown, and possibly not even knowing himself that he was the Messiah until God revealed it to him. He would be a mysterious figure ‘coming from nowhere'.

But in their eyes Jesus was the very opposite of that. They were fullycognisant of where Jesus came from. He came from Galilee. Thus to them He could not be the Messiah. He was not mysterious enough. Here were more people who had a body of tradition and were thus blinded by it.