John 7:1-36
Title: The
Messiah Teaches in the Midst of the Feast.
Analysis:
Jesus,
now approximately six months later is walking in Galilee. He had left the
crowds and had only been teaching those who were truly committed to Him. The
crowds had wanted to make Him king and the religious leaders wanted to kill
Him. At this time it is the feast of Booths, and Jesus brothers who were not
believing in Him suggest to Him that He go to the feast and display His
miracles before the people (vs. 3-4). Jesus was unwilling though and replies in
verse 8, “Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because
My time has not yet fully come.”
After
hearing His response, His brothers and family leave and go to the feast while
Jesus stayed in Galilee. In verse 10 though we seem to come to a contradiction
for after His brother’s leave, Jesus Himself departs and goes to the feast but
in secret. Perhaps while the Lord was alone, the Father had directed Him to go.
Regardless, Christ did leave for the feast but avoided the religious leaders
who sought to kill Him (vs.11).
The
crowds, who attended the feast were divided as to whether to believe that Jesus
was a good man or be convinced that He led others astray (vs.13). But they too only
spoke of Him in secret for fear of the authority that the Jews held. Although
the crowds were hostile, this did not prevent the Saviour from continuing His
ministry. In the midst of the feast Jesus reveals Himself at the temple and
begins a three part declaration of His relationship with His Heavenly Father.
First Christ declares that His authority is from the Father, second, that He
came from the Father, and third, that He will depart to the Father.
The
first of these declarations come in verses 14-24. Amazed by His wisdom, the
Jews were questioning between themselves as to how Jesus could have such wisdom
while having never been educated. Jesus, knowing their thoughts and words
replied to them saying that His teaching is not from Himself but rather, “…His
who sent me.” Jesus was not like the other self-proclaimed Messiahs that had
come before Him. They speak for themselves (vs. 18) but Christ spoke for the
Father. Therefore, “…He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is
true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” This declaration was another
proof that Jesus was Messiah, for He spoke for the Father. He sums up His
declaration of authority by saying in verse 24, “Do not judge according to
appearance, but judge with righteous judgement.” Jesus’ wisdom, teaching,
actions, impact, and deeds all testified to the fact that He was God and His
authority came from God.
Secondly,
Christ proclaims that He came from the Father (vs. 25-31). And at this time,
some of the crowd recognized Him as Jesus, the man whom the religious leaders were
trying to kill. They question the ruler’s thoughts of Christ and decide in
their own minds that He can’t be the Christ. Both the rulers and the people
could not firmly decide who Jesus was. Jesus cries out to the people once again
telling them in verse 28, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I
have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.”
Jesus confronts their unbelief in Him by saying once again that He came from
the Father. While some of the crowd believed in His name the Pharisees were
still indignant.
We
see this hatred develop in verses 32-36 where Jesus completes His third
declaration saying He will depart to the Father whom He came. Verse 32
says, “The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the
chief priests and the Pharisees made plans to seize Him.” Jesus, knowing these plans boldly tells
them that He would only be with them a little while, and then He would leave to
the Father. Where He was going they could not follow, because they did not
believe in His name. They Jews, not understanding tragically mock Jesus’ words
not realising that they speak to their own condemnation to judgement. The Lord
was soon to go to His eternal home, and only those who believed in Him, would
follow Him there.
Response:
How
am I to respond to this Jesus? As John has been outlining throughout His gospel
we see the continuing animosity towards the Saviour. He is rejected by the
people (6:60-66), the religious leaders (7:32), and even His own family
(7:3-5). Isaiah rightly did prophecy about Christ when he said in Isaiah 53:3,
“He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and like one whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem
Him.” This Jesus lived a life of rejection but He was not to be rejected for
all time. Many believed in His name and many more have come to salvation by His
work of death on the cross. His rejection by sinners like me has now turned
into a life of worship and praises to this most High King. And as I live the
rest of my days here on earth, I will never cease to bring ultimate glory to
His name.
