John Chapter 7
vs. 1 - "After these things"..
Why is Jesus staying in the Galilee region? (John 7:l)
Why is Jesus unwilling to walk in Judea at this time?
What Feast of the Jews was close at hand ?
What do you know (if anything) about this particular feast?
The required annual feasts are another great study to look at another time! Each one of them celebrated something significant for the nation of Israel, but they also pointed to (pictured) New Testament teachings when God would fulfill the promise of the Messiah and the New Covenant in His blood.
SEE LEVITICUS CHAPTER 23 FOR AN OVERVIEW of what was celebrated, how long it was celebrated, and any information you glean about each one.
An Interlude Between Festivals of 3 Months..then..
Feast of Trumpets
Day of Atonement
Feast of BOOTHS
THIS IS JUST TO GIVE YOU A GLANCE AT THE FEASTS AND THE ORDER THEY CAME IN TO HELP OUR UNDERSTANDING OF JOHN.
Back to John Chapter 7:
It was close to the time of The Feast Of Booths. As we saw in verse 1, Jesus is in Galilee and not willing to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.
What were His own brothers saying to Him? vs.3,4
When Jesus' own brothers encouraged Him to go on up to the feast, did they have His 'best' in mind?
What does the Scripture tell us in John 7:5 ?
Jesus suffered family rejection as many have! Can you imagine being the very Son of God, living a perfectly sinless life in the midst of your natural family, having a virgin birth that surely had been talked about (but obviously not believed), doing miracles none had ever seen...and yet your own brothers were not believing in Who You were! Jesus explains to his brothers that He is hated by the world at this time.
Jesus tells His brothers that it was not "His TIME" yet.
As you have marked this phrase quite a few times in the chapters through John, are you sensing what it may mean? Look back and write what it says in these:
John 2:4 -
John 7:6,8,30 -
Look forward to these and write what is said:
John 8:20 -
John 12:23 -
John 13:1 -
John 17:1 -
Did you get a grasp on what this phrase means when Jesus talks about the Divine Timetable He was on ? it was all in the Father's time, not in His, not in any mans, but His Father had it all planned out before He even sent Him to this earth.
Jesus told his brothers to go on up to the feast themselves without Him. He stayed in Galilee and then finally went up alone to Jerusalem secretly. Sure enough, the Jews were seeking Him at the Feast! He was the discussion of the day among the crowds that had gathered. Many gave opinions to one another, but no one was speaking openly of Him. Why not? vs.13
The Feast of Booths lasted for awhile........ so in verse 14 of Chapter 7, it states: "in the midst of the Feast....Jesus went up into The Temple itself in Jerusalem..." -
He was teaching from the Old Testament Scriptures.
What was the Jews' reaction to His teaching?
What was Jesus' answer to them? vs. 16 -
What was the test within each man to find out if Jesus' teaching actually came from God? vs.17
In the New Testament, we are exhorted as the church, on how to know if the teachings we hear are really of God! If they lead us to do the will of God! Look at these verses below:
I Timothy 6:3-9"If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ,and withthe doctrine conforming to godliness,he is conceited and understands nothing;but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation, and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction."
Were some churches today just described?
Were some so-called "religious groups" just described?
Were any among us described?
We need to re-evaluate and line ourselves up with the Word of God.
Does the doctrine you listen to call you to a life of contentment with what God has blessed you with?
Can you say "Not my will, but your will, Oh Lord"?
Does the doctrine you listen to have only the Words of the Holy Bible that are recorded by God Himself, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and what He gave His apostles to pass on to us in the Word of God?
When you hear the sermons, are you called to conform to Christ?
Are you called to conform your lifestyle to Godly living?
Sometimes, like the Jews that were not sure if Jesus was speaking God's Words, we aren't sure if our preachers and teachers are speaking God's Words.....because we don't know it for ourselves! This is why my passion is so strong for myself and for others that we Read the Bible for ourselves.Yet, the test for them....and for us...is - "If any man is willing to do His will, we will know if the teaching is from God......"(John 7:17)
Once again, if these Jews were willing to do the will of God, what would they know? vs. 17 -
If anyone speaks of "himself", what is "he" seeking? vs. 18 -
Once again, while having the opportunity to speak to the Jews about the Scriptures and the Law of Moses, what does Jesus tell them in verse l9? (Woe!)
And then He asks them, "So why do you seek to kill Me?"........
The crowd that has gathered to celebrate this required annual feast of the Jews are not sure what Jesus is saying, but He is stepping on the feet of their religious leaders!
Jesus Is Having a Rough Week !
His own brothers have mocked Him in their unbelief, He is being sought out by the Jews to be killed, and now the crowd that was listening to Him....are accusing Him of having a demon (the very Creator of all heavenly beings, even those who chose to rebel...another subject...another time......) - being called A Demon Himself.
Remember: The conflict truly began in John, Chapter 5 when Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath day! And then, He goes on in his discourse to teach that He and the Father are One, equal in their attributes of holiness, judgment, etc....
Look at verse 24...How are we not to judge.
Continue studying.....it is a life-long course of learning and growing in His grace and knowledge daily.Some of the people of Jerusalem knew that the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus. They were amazed because here Jesus was speaking openly in public and yet......no one was even trying to seize Him to kill Him!
Write out a summary statement:
Verse 31 tells us that many of the crowd believed in Him....
What convinced them according to this verse that He was The Christ?
By this time, can you summarize JOHN'S PURPOSE for writing this Gospel again? (John 20:30,31)....have it memorized by now? Try to summarize on your own, but look if you have to!
We need to interpret everything John writes according to His purpose for this Gospel account. The Pharisees and the Chief Priests sent officers to seize Jesus. Jesus spoke some words to them that simply baffled them. He told them they would seek Him, but not find Him, that where He was going, they couldn't come! In all that confusion, they debated among themselves what it could mean......On the last day, the Great Day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying:"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being will flow Rivers of Living Water." (John 7:37,38)
What was He speaking about? vs.39 -
When would those who had believed in Him receive this gift? vs. 39 -
What would have to happen first according to this verse ?
The Jews went through a ceremony of pouring water out each of the seven days of the Feast symbolizing when water came out of the rock to nourish the Jews when they were in the wilderness with Moses. However, as Jesus has been teaching them, Moses wrote about Him..so this event was actually pointing to Him, the fulfillment of the New Covenant, He IS The Living Water !! The people are really divided in what they believe! (same as today)
True: He would be a descendant of David and He surely was! They seem to miss the fact (or not know ) that Bethlehem was the place of His birth! Everything had been fulfilled by God exactly according to the Scriptures.
Yet, they didn't !
When the officers returned to the Pharisees and Chief Priests and did not have Jesus with them - What did they say when asked why? vs. 46 -
How did the religious leaders of the Jews respond to this? vs. 47-53 -
Everyone went to his home....
Application:
Are you rejected by your family because of your faith in Christ?
Jesus has been in your shoes. God became flesh to be like you because in your own works, you could have never become like Him. Jesus is the giver of the Holy Spirit.
Have you been accused of having a demon before by others who believe they are more religious than you? If not a demon, do some think you are crazy for placing your faith and your life in the Lord Jesus?
Have you received rivers of Living Water that flows from your innermost being?If you need the nourishment of that everflowing river, ask Jesus to come into your life today and seal your life with the Holy Spirit of Promise from the Father.
Your Summary and Prayer:
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