JESUS RETURNS TO JERUSALEM–JOHN 7:1-53–LESSON 16
Introduction:
This section prepares the way for another confrontation of Jesus with His opponents in Jerusalem. This ministry in relative obscurity in Galilee provides a delay in the coming conflict.
“After this” is a vague time reference. Since the events recorded in chapter 6 took place shortly before the Passover (6:4), that is, in April, and the Feast of Tabernacles (in October) was now near (7:2), about six months were spent by Jesus in His ministry in Galilee. Galilee was safer because His enemies were in Judea . . . waiting to take His life.
The Feast of Tabernacles (v. 2) was one of the three great Jewish feasts. This feast, also called the Feast of Ingathering, was a time of thanksgiving for harvest. It was a happy time; devout Jews lived outdoors in booths made of tree branches for seven days as a reminder of God’s provision in the desert during their forefather’s wanderings. The feast also signified that God dwells with His people.
Jesus’ brothers, sons of Mary and Joseph after Jesus’ birth, were at this time unbelievers (cf. Mark 3:21, 31-35; 6:3; John 7:5). The argued that the popular Feast of Tabernacles would be the right time for Jesus to present Himself as the Messiah. The felt that he needed to show his power, v. 3-5.
Jesus did not feel the time was right and always did that which pleased the Father. John pointed out this fact that Jesus’ time had not yet come (2:4; 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20). It is interesting to note that His time came just before the Cross as noted in His Intercessory prayer, “Father, the time has come” (17:1; cf. 12:23, 27; 13:1).
I. JESUS ANTICIPATES THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, vs. 10-13
A. Jesus makes a covert entry into the city.
1. The reason, v. 1, “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.”
2. Everyone seemed to know this, v. 25, “Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?”
B. The widespread debate and opposition was growing, John 6:41, “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
1. There was widespread whispering among the Jews.
2. “The charge, He deceives the people, had ominous tones for the penalty for this, according to Talmudic law, was death by stoning.” [Edwin A. Blum]
II. JESUS AT THE FEAST, vs. 14-36
A. Half way through the feast Jesus began teaching in the temple courts.
1. Three days had passed and He had not been seen.
2. The religious leaders (the real threat) listened to Him teach and were amazed, Mark 1:22, “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.”
3. His teaching was learned and spiritually penetrating. Yet He had never been a disciple in any Rabbinic school. They wondered how this could be possible.”
B. Jesus states that His teaching was from God who had commissioned Him.
1. The Father hath sent me, John 12:49-50, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50-And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
2. If you don’t believe that, believe me for the very works sake, John 14:11, 24, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 24-He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”
3. Faith is the prerequisite for understanding. Without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
C. Jesus challenges the religious leaders, vs. 18-36.
1. Jesus speaks not of himself, v. 18, “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”
2. He does the work of God, John 6:28,29 “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29-Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
3. The audience boasted in Moses’ Law, John 9:28, “Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.”
a. Jesus attacked their self-confident religion for He knew them, John 2:24-25, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25-And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
b. They assumed they were Law-keepers. But their hearts (inner thoughts) were full of evil, Mark 7:6-7, 20-23, “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7-Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 20-And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21-For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22-Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23-All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
4. Instead of repenting they accuse Jesus of having a demon, v. 20, “The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
a. People had said the same of John the Baptist, Matthew 11:18, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.”
b. Jesus had told His half-brothers the world hated Him, John 7:7, “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”
c. Because “everyone who does evil hates the light,” John 3:20, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
III. THE LAST DAY OF THE FEAST, vs. 37-53
The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated with certain festival rituals. One was a solemn procession each day from the temple to the Gihon Spring. A priest filled a gold pitcher with water while the choir sang Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Then they returned to the altar and poured out the water. This ritual reminded them of the water from the rock during the wilderness wanderings (Num. 20:8-11; Ps. 78:15-16).
A. This ritual also spoke prophetically of the coming days of Messiah, Zechariah 14:8, 16-19, “And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 16-And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17-And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18-And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19-This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
B. Streams of living water will flow from within one who believes in Jesus. That is, he will have a continual source of satisfaction, which will provide life continually, John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
C. John explained that the “living water” was the coming gift of the Holy Spirit, vs. 38-39, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39-(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
D. The debate about who Jesus was continued.
1. Some saw Him as the Prophet mentioned by Moses, Deuteronomy 18:15,18, “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 18-I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”
2. Some said Jesus is the Christ, that is, the Messiah, but others rejected that idea because He came from Galilee, v. 52, “They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.”
CONCLUSION:
“And every man went unto his own house.” That ended the discussion for the moment.