Feast of Tabernacles
John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
It was no secret, that the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, the holy city, sought to destroy the holy one from God.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
John 7:2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
This was a week long celebration where families camped out in booths made of tree branches or wooden frames with curtains, in remembrance of the wilderness journey of their father's from Egypt to the promise land. They celebrated the LORD's provision. They looked forward to a new dwelling place in the promised land. We are pilgrims in this world this is not our final home.
2 Cor 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Cor 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2 Cor 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
2 Cor 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
John 7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
John 7:4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, show thyself to the world.
John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Jesus' brothers were not believing in him. They mocked him, telling him to go openly to Jerusalem and to be known openly, IF he is so great. A true brother seeks the best for his brother. Their words were careless, not careful. Perhaps they also were jealous of Jesus. How blessed are those we speak kind words and who seek to build up a brother.
Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
John 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
His time to be taken and sacrificed for their sins, had not yet come. They were free to come and go, for they were no threat to those seeking power and prominence. Jesus will have a time of great suffering and then he will be exalted above all.
Phil 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
The world cannot hate you, because you are of the world. This was a rebuke to them. They were more of the world then of God. Later, after the resurrection, the Lord's half brothers, James and Jude would believe in him. They wrote inspired books that are included in the Bible.
John 7:8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.
My brothers, you go up to the feast. It is not yet time for me.
John 7:9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
John 7:10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
He went secretly unto the feast. He was not with his family, yet probably his twelve disciples followed him. He would not go publicly seeking attention, but privately.
John 7:11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
John 7:12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
Opinions today still are for or against Jesus. Your belief will decide your eternal future. Jesus is the only way to God, the only way approved of God.
John 7:13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
John 7:14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
He did not fear speaking the word. The word is powerful and necessary. Paul also wrote that he himself must preach the gospel. The gospel is to be shared to bring life to others.
1 Cor 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
John 7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
How does this man know the scriptures? He has never gone to the schools of higher learning. He was not taught the thoughts of men regarding the scriptures.
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Where did this uneducated Nazarene learn this great wisdom? It is not of man, he gives glory to the Father, He gave him the words to speak.
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
If you know the doctrine, you will know it is truth that he speaks. These are not just made up words of a clever man. These are not mans ideas and traditions; the thoughts of a Rabbi or religious commentator. The word spoken as it comes by God's Spirit is the word of faith, the word to save people from sins.
John 7:18 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.
He that speaks his own thoughts seeks self glory. Is that why we serve God? For self glory, or for His glory? We speak God's word for His glory and because it has power to change lives.
John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
Because he had earlier healed a man on the Sabbath, they sought to kill him. None of them kept the law, why do they only seek to kill Jesus?
John 7:20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
They denied this truth, saying that he spoke by a devil.
Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Mat 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Mat 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Who were these angry Jews really serving when they came against Jesus? Who do we serve when we seek our own glory or oppose God's anointed servant?
John 7:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
Healing a man on the Sabbath.
John 7:22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
John 7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
He uncovers their shallow reasoning. Let me say this, we do not use the law or the word to destroy others, to make ourselves look good. They were looking not so good when Jesus shined His light on their hearts.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Righteous judgment is by the spirit of the law, not the letter.
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
John 7:25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
John 7:26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
John 7:27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
They had ideas from scriptures regarding the coming of the Messiah, Jesus did not seem to fit their expectations. They knew him as the carpenters son.
John 7:28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
You know me? I am not as you think. The devils knew him.
Mark 1:23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
Mark 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
John 7:29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
You do not know God, but Jesus knows him for he is from him, and he had sent him. Jesus was not confused by His identity. He knew where he came from and for what purpose. We need to know our purpose from God and to remember where we are going, to be with him. Satan tries to remind us of our earthly past and failings, but we are no longer of the earth, heaven is our new home, if we are in God's family.
John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
No man could take Jesus until His time had come. He was protected. When the time came, he would be glorified fulfilling his calling. He would go willingly to the cross to remove our sins and he would arise into everlasting glory.
What is your opinion of Jesus? Though they wanted to capture Jesus and kill him, he boldly proclaims the counsel of God in their Temple. He was fulfilling his purpose until the appointed time of his death, burial and resurrection. Are you fulfilling God's purpose for your life?
Superragman@aol.com
John Chapters
John 8
John 1 Table of Contents
Eaglewings Ministries
Eaglewings Testimonies