John 7
-After many were
not walking with him anymore (John 6:66) and knowing that He by now had drawn
the ire of the Jews because they were actively trying to kill Him, Jesus was
unwilling to walk in Judea, at least publicly. Therefore, He walked only in
Galilee. The Feast of Booths was near; however, and His brothers told Him He
should go into Judea so that His disciples could see His works that He was
doing. Actually, they were doubting Him at this point. So Jesus told them
plainly, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world
cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are
evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My
time has not yet fully come.” He stayed in Galilee after this statement, but
later changed His mind after His brothers had gone up to the feast. He went
secretly, since the Jews were seeking Him and asking as to His whereabouts. In
fact, there was much dissension in the crowds concerning Him as some were
declaring Him to be good, while others were saying that He led people astray
from the Law and the LORD. However, no one was speaking openly about Him for
their fear of the religious Jews in leadership positions (John 7:1-13).
-Something astonishing happened amid the feast as Jesus
began speaking publicly up in the Temple. He was teaching and wowing all who
listened because He had not ever been educated to speak on such things. He was
maintaining His position as the one and only Son of God who sent Him into the
world. He spoke, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the
teaching, whether it is of God or whether
I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who
is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no
unrighteousness in Him.” Then He asked an apropos question, “Did not Moses give
you the Law, and yet none of you
carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The masses accused Him of
having a demon and sarcastically wanted to know who sought to kill Him. Jesus
continued to expound, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. For this reason
Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the
fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives
circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are
you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not
judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." It
started to dawn on people who this was when He made this statement, and they
began to ask if this was not the man whom they were seeking to destroy. He was speaking
publicly, and they were saying nothing against Him. This made people wonder if
the rulers were coming around to acknowledging Him as the Christ. Again, they
thought they knew where He was from (Nazareth), but made the comment that no
one would know where the true Messiah would be from. Jesus now cried out in the
Temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I
have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I
know Him because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” Now they were trying to seize
the Son of Man, but no man was able to lay his hand on Him because His time had
not yet come. But, many from the throng of people did believe in Him with the
exclamation, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those
which this man has, will He (John 7:14-31)?”
-The Pharisees got wind of the crowd’s mutterings about Him
being the Messiah, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers out to
seize Him there in Jerusalem. Jesus began to prophesy again, “For a little
while I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me, and will not
find Me; and where I am going, you cannot come.” By this saying, the Jews speculated
that He might be going to the dispersed Jews among the Greeks, or even teach
the Gentile Greeks. Now on the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus
stood up and publicly cried out once more, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come
to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, ‘From his
innermost being will flow rivers of living water (Isaiah 44:3; 58:11).’” The
Lord was speaking of the Holy Spirit, “whom those who believed in Him were to
receive,” post resurrection when He was glorified (Joel 2:28). Again, some
believed, and claimed that certainly He was the Prophet, spoken of from ages
past (Deuteronomy 18:15). But again, there was debate because He was known to
have come from Galilee. They didn’t perceive that He was from the house of
David, and that He had actually been born in Bethlehem according to the
prophetic word (2 Samuel 7:1-17, Psalm 89:3-4, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:1-20).
The division was real, with many wanting to take Him into custody, but no one was
able to lay hands on Him. Now when the officers returned to the high priests
and ruling Pharisees, they were asked why He was not brought. The officers
answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” This made the
religious leaders scoff, “You have not also been led astray, have you? No one
of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?” They went on to state
that this crowd, which they maintained did not know the Law, should be
accursed. However, the astute and truth seeking Nicodemus, who had come to
Jesus previously (John 3:1-21), rises and corrects them, “Our Law does not
judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?”
This angered the Pharisees, and they accused him of being from Galilee himself.
They arrogantly postulated that no prophet ever arose out of Galilee (John 7:32-51).
The wisdom of God was destroying the pseudo-wisdom of religious man-made and
demonic pride.
-*Application*-
God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace and truth to the humble who live
by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Zephaniah 3:11-13, James 1:9; 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). He confounds
the wise of this age to display His glory over and above man-made religious
systems that promote power and wealth in this temporary realm (1 Corinthians 2).
His cross, while low, makes the path to Heaven sustainable and obtainable.
Refuse the puffed-up attitudes and let the honesty of Christ indwell our faith.
Verse to Memorize:
John 7:18
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