Jesus opposed by the Jews- Pt. I (Revised)
So that you may believe - Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 57:03
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Feast of the tabernacles
Feast of the tabernacles
The background helps us to understand the spiritual significance of some of the things in our passage tonight.
I wanted to share some background information about this feast, by the way, this is one of the three feasts that men must pilgrim to Jerusalem each year.
(Insert Feast of Tabernacles picture here)
It is sometimes call feast of tabernacles, booths or even Sukkot
It is held 7th month, starting 15th day, this is month of Tishri (about Sept/Oct)
It happens five-days after the day of Atonement, and the completion of the fall harvest
You can find the establishment of it in Deu23, and more details in Deu16:13-16; Exo23:16.
The purpose was to remember God’s provision for Israel while in the wilderness for the 40-years.
The feast lasts for eight days, starting with a special Sabbaths (rests) during it. For seven days there is a golden pitcher of water carried from the pool of Siloam to the alter at the temple and poured out as a reminder of God’s provision to a thirsty Israel. On the eighth day there was no pouring of water, only prayers for water. And it was to remind them of entering the promised land.
So, we have come from the challenge from the unbelieving brothers (7:3-5); Jesus response it is not his time (7:8); To the people, Jews (leaders) and others looking for him (7:11-13) to Jesus coming undercover (v.10).
This is where we will pick up tonight and see how far we get. The passage is long (7:14-39) but will break it down in sections.
The Jews (7:14-18)
The people (7:19-24)
The locals (7:25-29)
The officers (7:30-36)
The invitation (7:37-39)
Not sure how far we will get, but let’s get started.
The Jews
The Jews
Let me define “the Jews” this will be the local Jewish leadership. Those involved in temple ministry. This includes Pharisees, Chief Priests, Sadducees as well as scribes.
The leadership did not agree theologically (i.e. resurrection) but they did agree that they wanted to due away with Jesus.
So, now let’s look at the first part of our passage.
14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?”
16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 “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.
18 “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.
Any general observations? Any words you think need to be defined?
Who are the main characters?
When did Jesus go up to the feast? What did He do when he got to the temple (v.14)?
How did the Jews feel when Jesus started teaching, and why (v.15)?
According to Jesus where did the teaching/doctrine come from (v.16)?
What is the proof of someone knowing the teaching was from God (v.17)?
Who does the One who is true and has no unrighteousness seek glory for (v.18)
Jesus avoided a grand entrance, but did not shirk away from being bold in the teaching and proclaiming the truth
The Jews (leaders) had issue with Him at first because he was not trained like they were, how could he know the things he did without proper training?
Alford said “If they could have condemned Jesus on some false doctrine or wrong understanding of Scripture, they would have. Since they could not, they attack the credentials of Jesus.”
Jesus did not point to His credentials, but to the doctrine. They hoped to disprove his doctrine, for who would believe and follow a liar. But they were amazed, astonished (v.15) at what He taught.
Jesus tells them the doctrine, the teaching is not His own, but His who sent Him (v.16).
Clarke says “Our blessed Lord, in the character of Messiah, might as well say, My doctrine is not mine, as an ambassador might say, I speak not my own words, but his who sent me: And he speaks these words to draw the attention of the Jews from the teaching of man to the teaching of God.”
Jesus while an eloquent and gifted speaker was not self-taught, He was God taught. it was not His doctrine, but the doctrine of the One who sent Him. He claimed the only authority He had was from the Father. Remember He is 100% in submission to the Father and only does what the Father tells him or He sees the Father do.
17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
What does it mean “if anyone” wills to do His will (7:17)?
“Spiritual understanding is not produced solely by learning facts or procedures, but rather it depends on obedience to known truth.”
Now focus on (v.18) whose glory does Jesus seek?
Jesus contrasts Himself with the one who speaks for himself, the one who seeks his own glory. Jesus, well He was different
Jesus sough the glory of God
Jesus is true
Jesus has no unrighteousness
I guess Jesus gave us two good measures of a true, good teacher.
Does the teaching come from God, through God’s revealed word?
Does the teaching, the work give the glory to God?
(Transition) -This now leads to the people. Remember this is time for feast and there are people in from everywhere. These people are the out of town people.
The People
The People
May we look together at this next section?
19 “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?”
21 Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22 “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.
23 “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? 24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Any general observations?
Who is Jesus addressing, and how do you know (v.19-20)?
OK, challenging question, what deed had Jesus done that He references in (v.21)?
Fed the 5000 (Jn6:11-14)
Or, if you look at (v.22) then that can’t be it, it must be the man in (Jn5:5-10)
What example does Jesus give about doing good on the Sabbath and why (vv.22-23)?
Circumcision then related it to the Sabbath
What does Jesus tell them to judge by (v.24)?
Judge with righteous judgment.
What do you think righteous judgment means?
OK, we have that gleaning done, at least for this section, Jesus states the obvious, that the law was given to the people through Moses, but none of them carry out the Law, but they are claiming Jesus violated the law by healing on the Sabbath (5:16) - man at the pool of Bethesda.
He uses the command of circumcision that is to happen on the 8th day (Lev12:3), and they would do that on the Sabbath, but to make a man whole is violating the Sabbath?
Commentator Trapp says “If you may wound a man on the sabbath-day, may not I heal one?
Now we get to (7:24) about judging, and the Jews were judging Jesus as a sinner because He healed someone on the Sabbath, and them as righteous for not working on the Sabbath. They were going by an appearance of sin, not by the truth of doing good.
(Transition) this now leads to the response from the locals, the people of Jerusalem.
The Locals
The Locals
Remember it is feast time, there were many people there. John is now turning his focus to the locals, to those living in Jerusalem, not the leadership but the people.
25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 26 “Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they?
27 “However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.”
28 Then Jesus 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.
29 “I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
Make some general observations of this passage.
Who is speaking (v.25)?
What are they speaking about (v.26) and about who?
Who is the “we” (v.27); where do they think Jesus is from?
How, in what manner does Jesus reply (v.28)?
In (v.29) Jesus confirms something He said before (6:57, 44); who is the One who sent Him?
The people in Jerusalem knew that the leaders wanted to kill Jesus, but the crowd from out of town (7:20).
26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?
The people are astonished that Jesus is speaking publically, boldly; and the Jews (leaders) were not stopping him, or saying anything to him (7:26).
Jesus was never intimidated by the religious leaders, in fact He often challenged them and their traditions, (i.e. sabbath and the example we just looked at).
27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”
The phrase “no one knows” is not out of the ordinary, they expected the Messiah to show up suddenly
1 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.
So, them thinking the Messiah would come from a place no one knows is not far off, they were staying consistent, but here consistently wrong.
Barclay said: “Popular belief held that the Messiah would appear. The idea was that he was waiting concealed and some day would burst suddenly upon the world and no one would know where he came from.”
The local people knew him and where He came from, they are associating him with Nazareth, and nothing good come from there. Some may have believed Bethlehem, but they thought the Messiah would come from City of David, from Jerusalem, again they were wrong, and the scripture told them the truth. They just did not see it.
28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
Jesus responds, you are right! You know me and you know where I am from. Though their understanding was limited and forgetful.
Yes from Nazareth, but remember Jesus already told them He was from Heaven, He came from Heaven because the Father sent Him.
He was sent from the one who is true, the one they do not know (God the Father) (consider Lk10:22).
29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
They may have thought they knew where He came from. They were perhaps confused about where the Messiah would come from, but Jesus was not confused and again made the bold statement, He came from Him!
FF Bruce “The language is simple and unambiguous; the claim is august. Jesus asserts afresh his unique relation to the Father and his hearers cannot miss the implications of His words.”