|
|
|
- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
|
|
GOSPEL OF JOHN Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert 6. Feast of
Tabernacles 7:1–53 [10 - (Jn 7:1-53)
2/3/10] a) The
Unbelief of Jesus’ Brothers (Jn 7:1-10) (1) Jesus was
in Galilee but did not immediately go to Judea to celebrate the Feast of
Tabernacles because the Jews had been (Jn 5:18) and were continuing to seek
to “kill Him.” (2) The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths was
one of the three great Jewish feasts (the others are Passover and Pentecost).
Josephus called it their holiest and greatest feast (The Antiquities of the
Jews 8. 4. 1). 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. (BKC). (3) Even though the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus,
His biological half-brothers (cf. Mt 13:55) urged Him to go to Judea. They
argued that they wanted people to see His works and become known to the world
(vs. 3-4). Jesus’ brothers may have wanted Him to go to Judea for the sake of
political freedom (or worse cp. Jn 7:1), but John tells us it was not for the
right reasons because they had not believed in Him (vs. 5). (4) Jesus understood their motives and
responded by saying that His time” had not yet come. He was referring
ultimately to fulfill God’s will when it would be His time (kairós) to be crucified. But on an
interesting play on words (paranomasia), Jesus
tells His brothers that their time (kairós)
is always ready to obey God’s will and believe on Him. The world hated Jesus,
but not His brothers because they were still of the world. (5) Jesus went up to the Feast not publicly but
in secret (10), not in deceit or in fear, but in God’s timetable. b) The
Division among the People (Jn 7:11-36) (1) “The
Jews” (were probably the Sanhedrin, which would have included the Sadducees
and Pharisees (Jn 1:19; 2:18; 2:20; 5:10), were seeking Jesus probably to
arrest or kill Him (cf. Jn 7:1). (2) The people were divided as to what they
believe about Jesus. Some thought He was a “good man” others a false teacher.
However, they kept their discussion from the Jews because they feared them
(13). (3) Instead of being fearful, or wasting an
opportunity, Jesus went in the middle of the Feast (aprox.
3 days) and began to teach in the temple (14). (4) Apparently, the Jews and the crowds were
gathered together when they found Him. The Jews were astonished at His
teaching because He was not educated in the way of the Sadducees and
Pharisees (15). (5) Jesus explained that His teaching was from
the Father. If anyone’s heart was opened to do God’s will, they would know
that Jesus was the Messiah and that He did not seek His own glory but the
Father’s (16-18). These are confirmations of Jesus’ person and work. (6) Jesus addressed the Jews and asked why are
they seeking to kill Him because He healed a man on the Sabbath, when the Law
permits circumcision (which predated the Law, Gen 17:10-12) on the Sabbath.
Evidently, some in the crowds did not know the Jews were seeking to kill
Jesus and shouted that He was demon-possessed. This will not be the last time
that Jesus will be accused of being demon-possessed (19-23). (7) Jesus exhorted the crowds to make a
righteous judgment concerning Him. The crowds began to ask why the Jews were
not seizing Him. To some this was evidence that Jesus was the Christ and that
the Jews did not know it (24-26). (8) The Jews questioned Jesus’ Messiahship because they knew where He was from (27) but
thought according to their own tradition that Messiah would be unknown until
he appeared (cp. Is 53:8; Ma 3:1). (9) Jesus answered and said though you know
where I was born and raised, The Father, whom they do not know, knows Him and
sent Him (28-29). Understanding He was claiming to be the Messiah and the Son
of God, they sought to seize Him, but could not because John reveals that
“His hour (hṓra) had not come” (God’s
divine will for Christ to be crucified, Jn 2:4; 7:30; 8:20; 12:23, 27;
13:1; 17:1). The crowds began to put it together that Jesus was the Christ
because He did enough miracles to be the Christ (31). (10) The Pharisees cold not stand it any longer
after hearing the crowds being moved to believe in Christ. Therefore, they
summoned the officers to seize (piázō
– catch an animal or fish; lay hold of with hostile intent,) Christ (32).
The officers were temple guards who acted like police in order to maintain
order. (11) Jesus responded to the Jews and the officers
and said that He would only be with them for a little while because He was
going to the Father who sent Him. They would not be able to find Him even if
they sought Him because they rejected Him as Savior. If they reject Christ in
this life, then they would not be able to go where He was (heaven) nor have
hope in the afterlife (33-34). (12) Once again, Jesus’ audience did not
understand spiritual things. The Jews perhaps thought He was talking to about
going to non-Jews or heathens and they would not be able to find Him (35-36). c) The
Unbelief of the Pharisees (Jn 7:37-53) (1) Sometime
after the previous controversy (“on the last day of the Feast”), about the
time when everyone’s attention was on the priest who was pouring water as
part of the ritual, Jesus stood up with a loud voice and said, “If anyone is
thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” The symbolism had Messianic overtones
and Jesus was clearly proclaiming to be the Messiah and Savior (Is 55:1;
Zech. 14:8, 16-19). If a sinner is thirsty for salvation, he must come to
Christ alone and drink (believe on Christ). When a sinner believes on Christ,
he not only receives eternal life, he receives the Holy Spirit, who is the
source of spiritual life and Encourager (37-39 cp. Jn 14:16-17; 26; 15:26;
16:7, 13). (2) John reveals the division among the people
because some called Him “the Prophet” (a reference to Moses’ prophecy - De
18:15, 18 cp. Jn 1:21, 25; 6:14; 7:40), while others said this could not be
the Messiah because He came from Galilee. They did know something about the
prophecies concerning Christ (Mic 5:2), but could not piece it all together.
Still others also wanted to seize Christ (40-44). (3) The officers were confronted by the chief
priests and Pharisees because they did not arrest Jesus. The officers were
also astonished by Jesus’ teaching and demeanor, but ultimately it was not
Christ’s hour. (4) The dialogue continued and the Pharisees
chided the officers for being led astray by Jesus much like the cursed and
ignorant crowds. At this point, Nicodemus shows some boldness and said that
Jesus should not be judged until he has been heard. The Pharisees did not
seem interested in finding out any facts on their own, but commanded
Nicodemus to do his own investigation. |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
