Cmty on John 7

Jesus teaches at the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)

John 7:1-10 - Before the feast.

John 7:11-36 - At the feast.

John 7:37-52 - The last day of the feast.

Jn 7:1-10 What were the circumstances of Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem?

This was a joyous and exciting time for the Jewish people, but a very difficult time for Jesus. Ever since the healing of the lame man beside the pool of Siloam, the Jewish leaders were bent on killing Jesus (vs. 1). But it was at the Feast of Booths that open and militant opposition to Him and His ministry really began. Many, including His own brothers, did not believe in Him (vs 5). So when His disciples tried to encourage Him to go to the feast and show to the world the works He was doing, Jesus refused and said to them, “My time is not yet at hand, 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.”

Jn 7:8 What did Jesus mean by His time had not yet fully come? (Jn 14:22ff)

Jesus had yet to totally confront the leadership in Jerusalem, but He used sensible caution to avoid trouble until He was ready. Jesus operated by His Father’s timetable (Jn 2:4, 7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 13:1, 17:1). There is lesson here for us. God’s timing is perfect and His plan divine. If we are walking in the light (as John writes in his first epistle) we will not try to rush or delay that timing, but be open to the Lord’s leading.

Jn 7:10 When and how did he go to the feast?

He went secretly after His brothers had already gone.

Jn 7:11-13 How was Jesus being viewed by the Jews who were already at the feast?

They expected him to be there and were looking for Him. Some were speaking favorably about Him, but others were quite negative. Even His brothers were numbered among the unbelievers (Mk 3:21). All this grumbling was quietly done among themselves for fear of the Jewish leaders.

The three groups of people at the feast:

The Jewish leaders. This included the Pharisees and the chief priests (most of whom were Sadducees) as well as the scribes. While there were many theological differences among them, one thing they had in common was their hatred of Jesus and their desire to kill Him (Jn 11:56). Two notable exceptions were Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (Jn 19:38-42).

The people from outside Jerusalem who had travelled to the festival to worship. Many of them would not have been influenced by the Jewish leaders in the Temple. It appears (Jn 7:20) that these people couldn't’ understand why Jesus was making such an issue of someone trying to kill Him.

The people who lived in Jerusalem (Jn 7:25), many of whom would likely have sided with the Jewish leaders.

Jn 7:14-19 Jesus Teaches His doctrine

Jn 7:14 When and for what purpose did Jesus go to the feast?

Word Studies in the New Testament Chapter 7

About the midst of the feast (τῆς ἑορτῆς μεσούσης). A peculiar form of expression found only here. The midst is expressed by a participle from the verb μεσόω, to be in the middle. Lit., the feast being midway.

Since the feast was seven days long, this would have been the fourth day.

He went for the express purpose of teaching. He did not go to worship in private, and He did not go to boldly announce Himself as the Messiah.

John 7:15 What kind of education would Jesus have had?

Jesus would have undergone standard Jewish training as a child and young man. There is a passage in the Mishnah (Aboth. 5. 21), which quaintly maps out and, as it were, labels the different periods of life according to their characteristics. It is worth reproducing, if only to serve as introduction to what we shall have to say on the upbringing of children. Rabbi Jehudah, the son of Tema, says: “At five years of age, reading of the Bible; at ten years, learning the Mishnah; at thirteen years bound to the commandments; at fifteen years, the study of the Talmud;

To teach in the Temple one was expected to have a more formal education from one of the approved rabbinical schools. The Jews marveled at Jesus’ teaching since he no such formal education. Humbly, Jesus stated that His teaching was not His own, but God’s.

Jesus’ enemies were making claim that since He had no formal education these teachings were simply the ramblings of personal opinion. Verse 17 literally reads, “If any man is willing to do His [God’s] will, he shall know.” What shall he know? That Jesus’s words are true and from the Father.. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “When I teach the Word of God, I can claim authority for the Bible but not for all my interpretations of the Bible.”

Jesus then makes an important observation; “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.”

Jn 7:18 Can you think of an example of this teaching in our society?

The various cults of the 60’s and 70’s. Church splits are generally caused by personalities rather than theological differences.

Jn 7:19-24 Has Jesus used this argument before? If so, where (scripture reference)

John mentions Moses twelve times in his gospel. Each time it is to remember something Moses said or did that had a lasting impact on the people. Here Jesus’ reference to Moses was in regards to the Law. The Jewish leaders had been given the Law by Moses, but they failed to abide by it. Now they were trying to claim theological authority (Jesus had healed the lame man on the Sabath) to get rid of Jesus.

The crowd joined into fray, not knowing that the leaders were actually try to kill Jesus. “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” they cried. This was not the first time someone claimed that Jesus had a demon. Mathew records for us several occasions prior to this where someone claimed He had a demon (Matt 9:32ff, 10:25, 11:18-19, 12:24ff).Jesus again argued from the standpoint of Moses, who had given the right of circumcision. Now when they circumcise a child on the eighth day (Gen 17:12; Lev 12:3; Lk 2:21) and it is the Sabbath they do not consider they are breaking the Law. Notice Jesus’ response, “If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?”

Jn 7:25-29 What is the logic being used by the people here?

We know where Jesus came from, but we can’t know where the Christ will come from, so this is cannot be the Christ!

Jn 7:30-31 We are still looking for signs! Notice again the phrase “ His hour had not yet come.”

Jn 7:32-36 What is meant by the phrase “the Dispersion among the Greeks?”

The Pharisees and chief priests failed to understand the spiritual connotation of Jesus statement and thought He was going into hiding where they could not find Him. The tragic history of the Jewish people since their rejection of Jesus as Christ is condensed into these words . . .‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

Dods, M. (n.d.). The Gospel of St. John (p. 767). New York: George H. Doran Company.

Jn 7:37-38 This exact specification of time is given that we may understand the significance of the words uttered by Jesus. The Feast of Tabernacles lasted for seven days (Lev. 23:34, Neh. 8:18), and on the eighth day was “an holy convocation,” on which the people celebrated their entrance into the holy land, abandoning their booths, and returning to their ordinary dwellings. On each of the seven feast days water was drawn in a golden pitcher from the pool of Siloam, and carried in procession to the Temple, in commemoration of the water from the rock with which their fathers in the desert had been provided. On the eighth day, which commemorated their entrance into “a land of springs of water,” this ceremony was discontinued. But the deeper spirits must have viewed with some misgiving all this ritual, feeling still in themselves a thirst which none of these symbolic forms quenched, and wondering when the vision of Ezekiel would be realised, and a river broad and deep would issue from the Lord’s house. Filled with these misgivings they suddenly hear a voice, clear and assured, Ἐάν τις διψᾷ, ἐρχέσθω πρός με καὶ πινέτω: that is, whatever natural wants and innocent cravings and spiritual aspirations men have, Christ undertakes to satisfy them every one. To this general invitation are added words so enigmatical that John finds it necessary to explain their reference

Dods, M. (n.d.). The Gospel of St. John (pp. 767–768). New York: George H. Doran Company.

Jn 7:40-44 There was a great division among the people. Who is “the Prophet” being referred to? (Mal 4:5; Matt 7:10-13; Jn 1:21; Acts 3:22)

While some thought Jesus was the Prophet Elijah, others thought He was the Messiah/Christ. Some of the people wanted to seize Him - “Politics make strange bedfellows.”

Jn 7:45 What is one possible reason why the Jewish leaders did not accept Jesus as the Christ? (Matt 11:25-27)

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: Feast Fight (John 7)

No doubt the rulers would have sent the guard out again, but Nicodemus spoke up. This man is found three times in John’s Gospel, and each time he is identified as the one “who came to Jesus by night” (see John 3:1–2; 19:39).

Jn 7:46-52 What did Nicodemus want them to consider about Jesus?

Ans. His Word and His work.

You can hear the sarcasm and disdain in their voices as they say, “You’re not also a Galilean, are you? This is a first class conditional sentence expecting a yes answer.