Traits of Tabernacling With Jesus

John 7 Background

Last 6 months of Jesus’ Ministry

Matthew, Mark and Luke focus on Jesus’ ministry up to this point, John focus is on ministry from this point on.

7:1-

He spent his time up to this point ministering in the region around Galilee because the Jewish leaders were wanting to kill

He thought that it was best for him to use the time He had left on earth to make an impact in the lives of people instead of picking a fight and arguing with the religious leaders

We all know someone that has an opinion about everything, that wants to argue or prove their point on every matter...

Let’s learn from the example of Jesus and use our time to care and minister not argue and bicker.

7:2- Feast of Tabernacles (Booths/Sukkot)

What is it:

It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, where Jewish men were to travel to Jerusalem if they were within 15 miles of the city.

Celebrates God’s provision as the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, when they had to rely only upon God for food and protection.

This also celebrates the last harvest festival before the onset of the winter rains in the land of Israel. It falls usually in mid-autumn.

Deut 16:13-17

Provides more details- READ for Homework

What do they do:

During the Feast of tabernacles they would build open air booths out of wood that would have palms woven as the roof, but in a way that you could still see the stars in the sky.

It was 7 days set aside to talk about the faithfulness of God your family

Imagine laying in the booth looking up at the stars in the sky

Promise of Abraham

Timothy in a tent —> Such a fun, yet awe inspiring occasion

Why is it significant:

Exodus 25: 8-9

The Lord asked Moses to build a tabernacle as a place to be worshiped and to speak to His people.

Exodus 33:7-11

Moses pitched his tent outside the camp as a place to hear from the Lord and then act according to his direction.

7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp (Away from Distractions- Focused). 8 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. (Reverence- knowing that God was going to come) 9 And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. (They worshiped- Knowing that God was in their presence and speaking) 11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

The Lord dwelt/Tabernacled with Moses there in the tent

John 1:14-18 (NLT)

So the Word (Jesus) became human and made his home among us (Dwelt temporarily/tabernacled). He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. 15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ ” 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.(Rejoicing over the provision and protection of God) 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

Jesus came and tabernacled with us to reveal to us in a more full way the heart of God.

He came in the flesh and walked a day in our shoes (12,053 Days) to demonstrate to us the traits we should have as we spend time with him.

As we tabernacle with him, we will look and act more like him.

Traits of Tabernacling With Jesus

John 7:2-14

2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 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. 4 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.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. 10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 12 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.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

(V:1-10) Moved by obedience not the opinions of others

V:4-5 His brothers did not believe he was the Messiah but were trying to goad him on to going so that He “Could be known/Increase His following”

V:6- “My time has not yet come”

He is referring to the time when He will be crucified.

He knew that if He went with His disciples a greater scene would have been made of his arrival in Jerusalem.

Out of Obedience to the direction God gave (Deut 16) Jesus went to Jerusalem

Not because of the pressures of people or evening wanting His way.

He acted in obedience to God’s timing

John 6:38

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Will: (Thelema) - Desire or Purpose

As we tabernacle with Jesus we should have this same heart of obedience and submission to the WILL and WAY of God not the way of the WORLD

John 7:14-18

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 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.

(V:14-18) Know the Word and heart of God

The people marveled at Jesus’ understanding of scripture

It was customary for someone teaching to attribute what they were sharing to the Rabbi that they had learned it from.

They knew that Jesus was not formally trained or taught

In their eyes He was the son of a carpenter

He said ““My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

He is not claiming to be the authority on what He is teaching, He is asserting that the authority and wisdom He has comes from the Father who commissioned Him.

V:17-

Rebukes them-

If you actually knew the heart of God, you would know that what I am teaching is of Him.

As we know the Word of God and the heart of God, we will have the wisdom to discern what is of Him.

Acts 17:11

Be like the Bereans: Searching the scriptures daily to discern what is true.

V:18-

He Rebukes them for using their teaching as a platform to glorify themselves instead of a platform to glorify God

Be wary of pastors/teachers and others that use their platform to lift themselves up and make themselves know about the name of God!

As we know the word and heart of God, our work is to Glorify GOD

John 17:4

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

This is the Job of the believer as we know the Word and heart of God

1 Peter 4:11

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

John 7:19-24

19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon (Saying- You are Crazy). Who is seeking to kill You?”21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers- Gen 17), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Recount the story of John 5:1-15

Jesus heals the lame man (38 years old)-

Tells him to pick up his bed and walk

Later that day the pharisees find him and say...”What are you doing caring your mat…dont you know you can’t do that on the sabbath?”…Who told you to pick up your bed and walk?

Jesus finds Him

John 5:14- See you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Jesus brings physical transformation to this mans life

The miracle was also used to almost bring Glory to God and to draw men and women him to transform their lives as well.

V:19-23

Jesus is calling out the religious leaders hypocrisy

Murder is in clear objection to Law given by Moses

The Pharisees would claim to be disciples of Moses, so why are they going against this Law

V:21-23- Custom of Circumcision

They had a loophole

Circumcision was a law given to Abraham 430 years before the law of the Sabbath was given to Moses

What are the traditions of men that we get hung up on ?

How someone dresses when they come to church?

Jesus hung with the worst of sinners, to bring them to a place of repentance and transformation in Him

The type of songs or way songs are sung in worship?

2 Samual 6:14- “David danced with all his might”

…undignified manner

We are to be tools of Transformation, to Glorify God.

John 7:25-31

25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 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. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” 30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

They thought they knew where he was physically from

In their mind Nazareth.

But they failed to realize he was sent of the father from Heaven.

V:30-

"His hour had not yet come”

No matter what we walk through in life, we must remember that God numbers our days, not us, and not our circumstances

God is in control

We can walk in boldness every day of our lives when we remember that we are called to bring him Glory no matter the cost as He numbers our days.

John 7:37-39

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

(V: 37-39) Dependent on the Spirit to fill you

Tradition of the Feast of tabernacles

The Priest would each day go to the pool of Siloam and fill a golden pitcher with water

Would go to the alter and read

Isaiah 12:3

Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 44:3

3For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;

John 7:40-44

40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.”But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

(V:40-44) Misunderstood and Misheard

JOHN 7:45-53

45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

(V:45-53) Received by some and rejected by others