UNBELIEF

John 7:1–13 NKJV

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him. Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

Main Idea: Jesus demands our unwavering belief in Him.

Key Question: Do you struggle with belief in Jesus?

1. You must believe in the person of God. (v. 1-5)

John 7:1–5 NKJV

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

John 3:18 NKJV

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 12:37 NKJV

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,

2. You must believe in the plan of God. (v. 6-9)

John 7:6–9 NKJV

Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

John 13:1 NKJV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

John 17:1 NKJV

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

Jesus is the fulfillment of the feasts of the Old Testament:

Lev 16 - Day of Atonement - Heb. 9:12 “He secured our redemption

Lev 23:24 - Feast of Trumpets - 1 Cor. 15 “when the trumpet sounds”

Lev. 23:16- Feast of Week of Pentecost - Acts 1:3 “wait for the Holy Spirit”

Lev. 23:10 - Feast of First Fruits - 1 Cor. 15:20 “firstfruits of the dead”

Lev. 23:6 - Feast of Unleavened Bread - John 6:35 “bread of life.”

Levititcus 23:34 - Feast of Tabernacle - Matt 1:23 “God is with us” Dwell with us.

Lev 23:4-8 - Passover - John 1:29

John 1:29 NKJV

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

3. You must believe in the purpose of God. (v. 10-13)

John 7:10–13 NKJV

But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

Romans 5:6–8 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:17 NKJV

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.