Answering the Ultimate Question (John 7:1-52)

What's the most important question that you've ever had to answer in your life?

What college to go to?

Who should I marry?

What should I name my baby girl?

When should I retire?

Would you like fries with that?

Well, I'll accept that last one a pretty significant questions, but there's one. One that even more important than all of those the most important question the ultimate question. Is what am I to do about Jesus?

What do I do with Jesus? This is the ultimate question because how you answer. It will indicate where you spend eternity.

In our passage today John 71252 tension steadily Rises as people are confronted with this question. And the answer in the number of different ways. The author John is building this tension in this chapter to get to a point later on. In the next chapter the tension will culminate with Jesus confronting the religious leaders with the reality of their unbelief and the clearest statement of his divinity and scripture so they have no excuse for their unbelief.

But the tension Rises here in John 7 in three phases. It goes from a private assessment about Jesus to open debate about Jesus and ending with widespread division about Jesus. Those who walk through each phase and John 7. I want you to really feel this tension. Building and understand that this tension is not gone away some two thousand years later. Let's look at the first base in verses 1 through 13 where we see the private assessment about Jesus.

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now. The Jews Feast of booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him leave here and go to Judea that your disciples Also may see the works you are doing for no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly if you do these things show yourself to the world for not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them my time has not yet come but your time is always here the world cannot hate you but it hates me because I testify about it that it's works are evil you go up to the feast. I am not going up to this Feast for my time has not yet fully come after saying this he remained in Galilee, but after his brothers have gone up to the fees then he also went up not publicly but in private the Jews were looking for him at the feast and saying where is he and there was much muttering about him among the people about some said he is a good man other said know, he's Leading the People astray yet for fear of the Jews. No one spoke openly of him.

So Jesus is sort of hiding out in Galilee. Remember, the religious leaders are seeking to kill him because he was a Sabbath breaker. And he had claimed equality with God back in John chapter 5. John 5:18 says this was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him because not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was even calling God his own father making himself equal with God. Totes he's laying low in Galilee, but the Feast of booths is at hand. This is a bit of a problem. Because all Jewish males were required to attend three main festivals in Jerusalem each year Passover Pentecost and Boots. Do you have to go to this Festival, but he couldn't openly go near Jerusalem because they're seeking to kill him. Well, Jesus's brothers are on their way up to the festival and they tell Jesus that he ought to go up to Jerusalem with them.

and publicly Proclaim But he refused the Christ his claim. They probably actually had not seen Jesus do any of his miracles any of his signs. We know that they accompanied Jesus from the wedding at Cana to to capernium in Chapter 2, but nowhere else are his brothers mentioned. So they're skeptical of their brothers claim to be the Christ. So they want proof and they want it publicly. And what better opportunity to do that then the Feast of boots? Everyone will be there. So if Jesus undeniably prove that he's the Christ then he will have all of his real on his side and then he can go over throw Rome like the price was supposed to do right?

wrong Jesus answered their suggestion saying my time has not yet come. Jesus is referring to the time when he would be glorified by dying on the cross for the sins of the world rising from the dead and attending to the right hand of the Father in heaven.

But then Jesus says your time is always here.

You see Jesus's use of the word time refers to Glory regardless of where the glory comes from. So the time of Jesus's brothers glory is always here because the world always glorifies them for their worldliness.

The world glorifies and accepts Jesus's brothers because they condone the evil in the world. As a part of that world system. But the world hates Jesus because he's contrary to that evil system. He testifies that the works of the world are evil because they're selfish and working against God. Then Jesus comes up his answer to his brothers you go up to the feast without me. I'm not going to make a spectacle of myself because my time has not yet come.

So Jesus stays in Galilee while his brothers head up to the feast without him and then Jesus goes up privately to the Feast of booths in Jerusalem. Now it sure looks at first glance like Jesus told his brothers. He was not going. But here he is going to the feast. Did Jesus have a change of heart or did he lie to his brothers? No. What he told his brothers was that he was not going with them.

Not that he refused to go at all. But he left it ambiguous enough that his brothers wouldn't ruin his private journey to Jerusalem. Jesus fully intended to go to the Festival. Because his attendance as a Jewish male is required by the law God's law. His law that he came to fulfill. So at the feast the religious leaders are asking around if people know where Jesus is kind of like Jesus had a wanted poster with a reward for his capture. Jesus is like Public Enemy Number One to these religious leaders and they assumed rightly that he would be there since all Jewish males are required to attend. Well, Jesus is the talk of the feast even. Even though his presence isn't publicly known yet. The people had heard and seen many things about Jesus and they're all judging Jesus based on their presuppositions. Instead of The Proven facts of Jesus's identity some said he was a good man. But some said he was deceiving the people. Both are wrong. Jesus claims to be the Christ and that claim is All or Nothing.

It doesn't leave room for Jesus to be just a good man.

If you were just a good man and not the Christ then his claim would be a lie, and he would necessarily not be a good man for deceiving the people. But since Jesus is claim is true as we've seen from the proof he gave the religious leaders in chapter 5 and he's not deceiving the people either. The word has spread about Jesus, but where does also spread about the religious leaders antagonism toward him? Because of this the people keep their opinions quiet so they wouldn't end up getting kicked out of the synagogue. So Jesus was hiding out in Galilee keeping his Works largely secret and then privately goes up to the Feast of booths and the people there are quietly muttering to each other their assumptions about Jesus whether he's just a good man or deceiving people. This is a very private assessment about Jesus. Now let's read verses 14 to 36 and see how the tension builds in an open debate about Jesus about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching the Jews therefore marveled saying how is it that this man has learning when he has never studied. So Jesus answered them. My teaching is not mine. But his who sent me if anyone's will is to do God's will he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I'm speaking on my own authority the one who speaks on his own sword. He seeks his own Glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true. And in him, there is no falsehood has not Moses giving you the law yet. None of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me the crowd answered you have a demon who is seeking to kill you? Jesus answered them. I did one work and you all Marvel added Moses gave you circumcision. Not that it is. From Moses but from the father's and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receive circumcision so that the law of Moses may not be broken. Are you angry with me? Because on the Sabbath I made a hold a man's whole body. Well do not judge by appearances but judge with right judgment some of the people of Jerusalem. Therefore said is not this the man whom they seek to kill and here he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ but we know where this man comes from and when the Christ appears no one will know where he comes from. So Jesus proclaimed as he taught in the temple, you know me and you know where I come from, but I have not come of my own accord he who sent me is true and him you do not know I know him for I come from him and he sent me so they were seeking to arrest him but no one laid a hand on him because his hour has not yet come yet many of the people believed in him. They said when the Christ appears will he do more science than this man has done the Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him in the chief priests and Pharisees send officers to arrest him Jesus and said I will be with you a little longer and then I am going to him who sent me you will seek me and you will not find me where I am. You cannot come. The Jews said to one another where does this man intend to go that we will not find him. Does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying? You will seek me and you will not find me. I'm where I am. You cannot come.

So Jesus goes into the temple and starts teaching. But somehow remains anonymous. To me teaching seems like the opposite of laying low. I would have found a secluded corner of Toulouse Jerusalem and waited this whole thing out, but Jesus knows what he's doing. By teaching in the temple. He's getting ready to reveal himself in a way that will force people to answer that ultimate question. What do I do about Jesus? They're already thinking about it. But they need to think deeper and debate amongst themselves about the facts of the scriptures. Well, the religious leaders hear Jesus his teaching and they Marvel. It appears that they don't immediately recognize Jesus, but we don't get to know why. All they know is that this guy that's teaching has never been to Rabbi School. So how does he know so much about the scriptures? Based on tradition. We know that Zechariah Chapter 14 was read and taught at every Feast of booths. So it's highly likely that this is what Jesus was teaching.

It's a prophecy about the coming day of the Lord and in verses 16 to 19. The Feast of booths is specifically mentioned in that chapter in Jesus probably had some very insightful things to say about that chapter, but we don't get to know them. Yet.

And the religious leaders Marvel that Jesus knows so much. So Jesus response to their marveling by explaining just where his teaching comes from

Whenever people are amazed at Jesus he always seems to back to the father and the fact that the father sent him to do and say these things. He's only doing the works. The father has given him to do John 5:36. He's only teaching what the father has taught him John 716. He's only speaking the words. The father has given him to speak John 8:38 and 12:49. This in no way diminishes Jesus's Glory as if doing what the father told him to do or given him to do somehow makes him less than the father. Jesus has been continued. Jesus has been and continues to claim identical Authority and glory with the father because he has a direct link to the father. Because they're both God along with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is glory and Authority are fully bound up with the glory and the authority of the father.

And then Jesus says if anyone's will is to do God's will he will know that Jesus is teaching is from God and not from his own authority.

Jesus says that one thing will reveal the truth of his teaching as fact from the father. Rather than his own opinion. That one thing is Desiring to do the will of the father.

Jesus had talked about the father's will and knowing the truth in the previous chapter. In John 6 verse 40 Jesus said for this is the will of my father that everyone who looks on the son and believes in Him should have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day and it versus 44 and 45. He says no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day it is written in the prophets and they will all be taught by God everyone who has heard and learned from the father comes to me.

The Desiring to do the will of the father is Desiring to come to Jesus believing that he is the Son of God having been taught by the father in your heart. If that's the state you're in. Then you will instinctively know that what Jesus teaches comes from the father. Because it's the very thing the father is already taught you writing it on your heart.

And then a verse 18 Jesus gives a sort of truism or proverb to explain the nature of his teaching in basic terms speaking your own opinion generally comes from a desire to glorify yourself even slightly. But if you have been sent to speak on behalf of another then your words are not your opinion. They reflect the authority of the one who sent you and give glory to the one who sent you. And there's no temptation to exaggerate or lie because your desire is to accurately reflect the one who sent you.

Remember that Jesus has been teaching anonymously up to this point. They don't know who he is. And even now is he explains the source of his teaching the people don't know who he is.

But then he brings up the law given by Moses and accuses them all of not keeping the law. I'm trying to kill him. The implication is that the religious leader is he was speaking to were speaking on their own authority and speaking their own Glory by seeking to kill Jesus because he broke their Sabbath Rule and they refuse to believe that Jesus is really equal with God.

Their desire to kill him actually goes against the law that came through Moses. Well, the crowd is confused. But Jesus clarify said that his identity for them. They think that Jesus is a crazy person. Only crazy people think that people are out to kill them when no one is out to kill them.

The common term at the time for a crazy person was that they had a demon that would cause them to act and say crazy things like this. But then Jesus revealed exactly who he is and who is trying to kill him. He says I did one work and you Marvel at it. The one work he did was killing the invalid at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath back in chapter 5. Then Jesus argues from the Lesser to the greater that if circumcision is acceptable on the Sabbath then healing a man's whole body should also be acceptable on the Sabbath. Circumcision was a practice that was established with Abraham and carried into the Mosaic law and they gave special permission to do the work of circumcision on the Sabbath in order to uphold the law.

So how much more? Should miraculously healing a man's whole body. Be given special permission on the Sabbath. Laughter Jesus makes this argument. He says do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

Basically don't judge a book by its cover. At first glance. It appears that Jesus had broken the Sabbath but looking closer. Jesus is miraculous healing should have been one of the works that was acceptable to do on the Sabbath like circumcision. Judgment must be reserved for after all. The facts are known. My Proverbs 18:13 says if one gives an answer before he hears it is his folly and his shame.

And love in Deuteronomy, 1:16 says and I charge you. I charge your judges at that time hear the cases between your brothers and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him. Well now that Jesus has identified himself with his healing on the Sabbath the people openly debate about him. First two people are bit confused at the lack of response from the religious leaders. Isn't this the guy that are seeking The Kill?

Then why don't they confront him?

unless maybe they've become convinced that he's legit.

But on the other hand, we know where this guy comes from He Came From Galilee. And tradition says that no one will know where the Christ comes from. This tradition. What is a common teaching about the Christ? That was not from scripture? That the Christ would have no earthly parentage and he would just show up out of nowhere. So Jesus Takes the opportunity to address the error of this particular tradition he affirms that they do know him and where he came from physically, but he's talking about his Heavenly origin as the Christ not the Earthly place. He calls home for now. Sure, you physically came up From Galilee To The Feast but he came to Earth from the father who sent him from heaven and they don't know the father.

Weather respond to split but the people are speaking and responding openly now that Jesus has revealed himself some sided with the religious leaders and wanted him arrested, but they were not able to do so. The only explanation John gives eyes. Or why they were prevented from doing so is that Jesus has divinely appointed time had not come. Remember that this is referring to the time when Jesus will be glorified in his death resurrection and Ascension. Those who did not side with the religious leaders believed in Jesus. They argued that Jesus had proven his claim to be the Christ due to the sheer amount of signs. He had performed. There are hundreds hundreds of prophecies about the Christ in the Old Testament and Jesus fulfilled all of them.

But the Pharisees heard the crowd saying these things and they sent officers to arrest Jesus and these officers were levitical priests in charge of keeping the Peace during the festivities and ceremonies. But what Jesus says to the religious leaders here is actually terrifying.

If they only understood exactly what he says here, they would be terrified.

But they don't. I think he's going back into hiding. He's really talking about going back to the father. Do the says that he's going to be on earth a little longer then he's going to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the father right now. They're seeking to arrest him and kill him. But once he rises from the dead and ascends to Heaven, they will seek him again. But he'll be long gone.

No be unable to come to him. The terrifying part is where he says where I am. You cannot come.

At that point he will be in heaven with the father and he says that these religious leaders will be unable to be with him there because of their unbelief.

Jesus will say something similar but directly opposite much later giving Insurance to his disciples that they will be with him in heaven. Jesus will say in John 14 verse three and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and we'll take you to myself that where I am. You may be also

obviously the religious leaders don't understand Jesus's statement. They ask among themselves. If Jesus was talking about going somewhere like the dispersion where the religious leaders wouldn't dare to go.

So things have gotten a little more tense, haven't they?

Where Jesus was hiding out in privately coming to the feast and the people were keeping quiet about their assessment of Jesus. Now, Jesus has gone and started teaching in the temple. And reveals himself, the people are now openly debating about him. The religious leaders make a move to arrest him and Jesus tells them to Eternal consequences of their unbelief. Believe It or Not things are going to get a little more tense

Inverse of 37 to 52 as Jesus gives a genuine offer of the Gospel which causes widespread division about Jesus. Vs. 37 252 does on the last day of the feast the great day Jesus stood up and cried out if anyone thirst let him come to me and drink whoever believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow rivers of Living Water. Now this he said about the spirit whom those who believed in him were to receive for as yet the spirit had not been given but Jesus because Jesus was not yet glorified when they heard these words. Some of the people said this really is the profit other said, this is the Christ. But some said is the Christ to Come From Galilee has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from The Offspring of David and comes from Bethlehem the village where David was so there was a division among the people over him some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them. Why did you not bring him the officers answered? No one ever spoke like this man the Pharisees answer the damn have you also been deceived have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed Nicodemus who had gone to him before and he was one of them said to them does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does. They replied are you from Galilee to search and see that? No Prophet arises From Galilee.

So this is now the last day of the feast John calls it the great day and Jesus gives a genuine offer of the Gospel to everyone who would listen. This is probably the Eighth Day of the feast since it went from the beginning of one Sabbath to the end of the following Sabbath.

And calling it The Great Day indicates that it was significant. When Moses told the Israelites what God had told him about the Feast of booths in Leviticus, 23, 30 32 36. He said that the 8th day was to be a solemn assembly distinct from the other seven days of the feast And Jesus gets up. During this solemn assembly and starts crying out to everyone there. If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink whoever believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow rivers of Living Water.

You see water was a very accessible image throughout the Feast of booths. Water would be ceremonially drawn and brought to the temple in a sort of parade every day of the feast and the customary reading and teaching from Zechariah 14. Said the all who did not obey and attend the Feast of booths during the coming day of the Lord would encourage route in their land. as a punishment, but this tickles me. Let me let me just tell you specifically talks about living water in in 14:8 where he says on that day Living Waters shall flow out from Jerusalem. And hear Jesus says all who thirst need only come to him to drink and he will provide living water flowing out of their heart.

And this is the same imagery he gave to the Samaritan woman at the well in chapter 4. And that he gave it to the Jews and capernium in chapter 6.

Believing in Jesus as the Christ the son of God results in rivers of living water flowing out of your heart. Then John explains that Jesus was actually speaking about the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. That would come after Jesus was glorified in his death resurrection and Ascension. Because Jesus was speaking about something that hadn't happened yet. The people probably didn't understand fully what he was getting at, but they understood enough to know that Jesus was making a claim about his sufficiency and his identity.

specifically in regard to Zechariah 14 So the people become divided as they're forced to make a decision about Jesus. We can see five different responses here and each one weighs the scriptures and Jesus is fulfillment of them differently.

Some had a deficient understanding of the scriptures. These people that started the view that Jesus is the prophet that Moses spoke about in Deuteronomy 18:15. This is the same thing that people concluded after being miraculously fed in chapter 6, they misunderstood the scriptures and thought the prophet and the Christ. We're going to be two different people, but they're the same person. Some rightly understood both the scriptures and Jesus fulfillment of them and believe that Jesus is the Christ. No, we don't get any more details about this group because John is focusing on the tension that arises from the wrong views about Jesus. But this is where we all should be. This is a right understanding scripture. And a right understanding of Jesus's proof that he is the Christ. I somehow deficient understanding of the facts about Jesus's life these people rightly understood the scriptures, but they did not have all the facts about Jesus is fulfillment of those scriptures. They understood that the Christ would be from the line of David that he would come from the city of David Bethlehem, but they thought Jesus Came From Galilee. They had no idea what his ancestry look like so they concluded wrongly that Jesus couldn't be the Christ because he didn't come from Bethlehem. But you did. He was born in Bethlehem.

A between these first three responses the people were divided some wanting to arrest him because they didn't believe he was the Christ. But again, no one was able to lay hands on him because the time is not yet come.

The last two responses Are the officers. And the religious leaders the officers had a deficient understanding of both the scriptures and Jesus is fulfillment of the scriptures. They were confused about the whole thing.

They came back to the religious leaders empty-handed and show their confusion if they answer no one ever spoke like this, man.

I don't know who this guy is. I don't really understand what he's saying. All I know is that it's different from anything I've ever heard.

For the last response is that of the religious leaders when the officers returned empty-handed these religious leaders show that they are willing to ignore the facts about Jesus and ignore the scriptures in their blind hatred of Jesus. They didn't have a deficient understanding. They fully knew the scriptures and Jesus has proof that he is the Christ. He had proven it to them back in chapter 5.

They were worse than uninformed. They were willfully ignorant.

They were abused the officers asking them if they had also been deceived. They've convinced themselves that Jesus has nothing but a liar deceiving the people and deceiving these officers as well.

And they argue that none of the authorities are Pharisees has believed in Jesus. The assumption is that the religious leaders knowledge of the law gives them the authority to judge the legitimacy of Jesus claim. In their opinion these officers and all the people would do well to look to their judgment because they know better.

A Jesus in their educated judgment is a fraud. Another comment here that the people don't know the law in our accursed is rather ironic.

The people have already recognized the truth about Christ's lineage and place of birth from the law. But the religious leaders have missed or ignored.

And the religious leaders will go on to show their contempt for the law. They say they know and keep. Nicodemus the Pharisee who came to Jesus in chapter 3 and Jesus taught him about the New Covenant and the second birth. Anyway, he went away from that encounter pretty confused. But now things are starting to click for Nicodemus. Especially as he sees the links to his fellow religious leaders are willing to go to stop Jesus. He brings up a valid point. And one that Jesus himself had brought up earlier. In verse 24 Jesus had said do not judge by appearances but judge with right judgment. Don't judge a book by its cover.

Remember Deuteronomy 116 the law required that a man is only to be judged after giving him a hearing. So Nicodemus brings up this point as a question, but even that question is more room than the religious leaders are willing to give Jesus. They're willing to disobey this law and judge Jesus without giving him a hearing. Enterprise they refuse to entertain the thought that Jesus just might be telling the truth.

Then they turn on Nicodemus and scathingly ask him if he's From Galilee to accusing him of being in collusion with their Public Enemy Number One. But then they say something that is utterly and verifiably false.

Search and see that no Prophet arises From Galilee.

No Prophet arises From Galilee, huh?

I'd like to draw your attention to Second Kings 14:25. It says that the prophet Jonah. Was from the region called gas heifer, which was later renamed. You guessed it Galilee. Jonah was From Galilee. You're even willing to twist the scriptures to fit their narrative.

I remember the Jesus or that Nicodemus was the premiere teacher in Israel at the time. I bet he heard them say that and immediately thought of Jonah. And we don't know for sure, but this was probably the moment that Nicodemus believed in Jesus as the Christ.

So we've gone from private assessment about Jesus to open debate about Jesus and now widespread division about Jesus even amongst the religious leaders.

The tension has grown to a fever pitch with a religious leaders willing to ignore and twist scripture because they hate Jesus for testifying that their works are evil.

Now the tension will keep building throughout. The next chapter is Jesus continues his dialogue with the religious leaders, but the point John is getting at here. Is that this tension? Not going away.

Whenever people are confronted with this ultimate question. There will be tension. Especially when people answer wrongly.

Remember the ultimate question is what am I to do with Jesus?

It's the ultimate question because how you answer. It will indicate where you spend eternity.

If you're a Believer, then you've already answered the ultimate question correctly.

But when you interact with others understand that there are many different ways people answer this question and many different reasons for answering the way they do. It's not your job to coerce and manipulate people into giving the correct answer. All your call to do is give the facts of the gospel and then posed the question. It's God's job to draw All Those whom he is called to answer correctly.

Now if you're not yet a Believer then allow me to give you the facts of the Gospel. Jesus is the Christ the son of God Who Came From Heaven lived a perfect life died on the cross and rose again so that you can be forgiven of your sins and have eternal life if you will believe in him.

now for the ultimate question What will you do with Jesus? Will you ignore him? Keep living your life for yourself only to be eternally condemned to Hell by your unbelief. or Will you believe in Jesus or panting of your sin and submitting to him as the rightful ruler of your life so that you can be forgiven and have eternal life?

Father. Thank you for your word.

Thank you for showing us your glory.

Thank you for showing us your son.

Lord we are thirsty. So we're coming to your son Jesus to drink because he's the only one who satisfies.

We have your spirit living inside of us producing rivers of Living Water. I pray that those Rivers would overflow. As we tell others and remind each other of your gospel. Are you loved us so much that you sent your son to die in our place. And rise again so that we can live with you forever. Is your adopted children?

I pray that as we encounter tension. With those who do not believe in your son that we would remember that it's not up to us to draw them. That's your job. Not ours.

We trust that you will call all of your children, but none of us will be lost.

We thank you. We love you and we pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.