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September 1, 2024 We ended our study of John 6 last week, with many of the who were following Jesus for the wrong reason leaving because His teachings had become difficult. He had invited His followers to abide in Him by saying; “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” We now know that He was speaking of partaking of Him within the communion service through the bread and the juice. Peter on the other hand, despite the hard teaching, still chose to follow Jesus even without fully understanding it. When Jesus asked them if they were also leaving he answered Him by saying; Joh 6:68-69 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (69) Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." When we come to the full realization of who Jesus is it gives us a new perspective. We fully trust Him so completely that we choose to follow regardless of our understanding or the difficulty of the road ahead. Today we see Jesus going to a feast in Jerusalem and having some choose to believe as the disciples did and some who do not. The sad truth is not all will choose to believe and accept the gospel message. This was the Feast of the Tabernacles and came at the time of the harvest reflecting back to when Israel was living in temporary shelters in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. It was a festive, joyous time as they looked forward to the coming day that the Messiah would reign bring peace and prosperity.
Joh 7:1-10 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. (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. Jesus’ brothers here are most likely those born to Mary and Joseph and we see they did not believe in His Divinity (yet). They wanted Him to go to the festival and openly reveal Himself to the people there; whether their goal was to prove His claims or to destroy them. Jesus knowing full well His time schedule and that those who hate Him will be looking for Him, does not go at first, but later going He stays mostly to out of the limelight. He was however, a hot topic of discussion even in His absence.
Joh 7:11-13 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. The people were afraid of what the Jewish leaders would say or do to them if they showed interest in Jesus. Jesus did not stay in hiding but at the right time appears at the Temple teaching.
Joh 7:14-24 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. (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. 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), 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." Upon openly teaching, the religious leaders are amazed at how well Jesus understands and teaches the scriptures. They don’t realize He is the Author of the story they are living out. He, however, is always quick to deflect any credit for His teaching from Himself to His Father who sent Him. He the very Son of God, yet still He is acting beneath the authority of His Father. He shows them the hypocrisy in their accusations against Him for healing a man on the Sabbath, as they circumcise a child on that day if his time falls upon it. Their legalistic views of always following the letter of the law blind them from the love, grace and truth behind the Law; focusing on the “what” not the “why” behind it.
Joh 7:25-31 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?" The Jews are conflicted at His teaching as they sense it to be divine, but they know Him and that causes them to doubt. Again Jesus declares that He has been sent, knows, and is known by God Himself. Confusion grows as they weigh in the balance that the leaders are not arresting Him and they have seen the miracles that He has done. Jesus continues His teaching:
Joh 7:32-36 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. (33) Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. (34) You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come." (35) Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? (36) What is this thing that He said, 'You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come'?" The Pharisees finally send officers to arrest Him, but Jesus proclaims that He will not be with them long and will soon be leaving. This causes more confusion as He tells them “where I am going they cannot come.” He is prophesying of the day that is coming in which these Jews would see their need for a Savior, but He would be gone from them. How sad is it that the One they had longed for and celebrated His coming through this Feast was right in front of them and they could not recognize Him? Finally, on the last day of the Feast Jesus calls them to come to Him.
Joh 7:37-39 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. Notice Jesus’ invitation to come is to anyone, but with one small requirement; come thirsty. The thirst He speaks here again is not the physical thirst for water, but a desire to quench a spiritual thirst. A thirst that desires more of God. That comes first with a realization that we are thirsty, lacking something, through recognizing our own sinfulness. We know we are not worthy, but Jesus calls us to come to Him and receive rivers of living water that will satisfy our thirst. He is only One who can satisfy our spiritual thirst. We learn later that this is done by the giving of the Holy Spirit which gives us the “rivers of living water” from within us. We must however recognize our thirst, and then come to Him to quench that thirst. Did you “come thirsty” this morning? Truly seeking to receive something from Him today? If you did, I trust you leave here satisfied. This again divided the crowd and notice the outcome of the guards who were sent to arrest Jesus.
Joh 7:40-52 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. (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." We see that a big factor in the Jews lack of faith was that Jesus was known to come from Nazareth. They were seeking the Messiah would scripture tells them would come from Bethlehem. They heard His words and sensed His Divinity, but details (which He really fulfilled) hindered them from embracing Him as Lord. These officers were so engaged with His words that they could not bring themselves to arrest Him; “No man ever spoke like this Man!” Somehow, His words quenched their thirst and they left Him satisfied but not sure why. Is there a thirst in your life today? Are you searching for something to satisfy your soul? Jesus invites all those who thirst to come to Him and He will give you living waters to drink.
Heavenly Father, create a thirst in us for You; help us to focus our eyes, mind and heart upon the things that You provide us.
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