Division in Jerusalem

II. The Division Jesus Encounters in Jerusalem (7:11–53):

Jesus receives a mixed reception while attending the Festival of Shelters.

A. The reaction to the Savior (7:11–13, 20, 25–27, 30–32, 40–42)

1. From the people (7:11–13, 20, 25–27, 30–32, 40–53)

a. Some feel he is a good man (7:11–12).

b. Some feel he is a deceiver (7:12).

c. Some feel he is demon-possessed (7:20).

d. Some feel he is an ordinary man (7:25–27, 41b–42).

e. Some feel he is a prophet (7:40).

f. Some feel he is the Messiah (7:31, 41a).

2. From the Pharisees (7:30, 32, 44–53)

a. Their intentions to arrest him (7:30, 32, 44): It is not his time.

b. Their inability to arrest him (7:45–53)

(1) They are frustrated by the military (7:45–49): The guards sent out to seize him come back empty-handed, saying, “We have never heard anyone talk like this!”

(2) They are frustrated by a member (7:50–53): One of their own members, Nicodemus, now stands up for Jesus.

B. The response from the Savior (7:14–19, 21–24, 28–29, 33–39)

1. The overview (7:16–19, 21–24, 28–29, 33–34)

a. Jesus says that his mission and message originate from God (7:14–18, 28–29).

b. Jesus says that the people in his audience do not keep the law of Moses and in fact want to kill him right now (7:19).

c. Jesus asserts that both healing and circumcising are permitted by the law to be done on the Sabbath (7:21–24).

d. Jesus tells them that he will soon leave but that they will be unable to find him (7:33–36).

2. The offer (7:37–39)

a. What (7:38): Jesus offers streams of living water to all those who are thirsty!

b. When (7:37): Jesus makes the offer on the final day of the Festival of Shelters.

c. Who (7:39): Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, who will soon indwell all believers![1]