We are now in John 7 and it starts out with “After this…” indicating a period of time elapsing between the last event listed in the previous scripture and this new one. It states that Jesus was walking about Galilee and would not go to Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill him. (v. 1) These Jews were the Pharisees and scribes, those who ruled the people, that had seen the signs and wonders that Jesus had done and were not moved to believe, only hate Him for violating their rules and making their false righteousness evident to all. His brothers, those born from Mary, so really half brothers came to him: “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” (vv. 3-4) It also said that His brothers did not believe in Him. (v. 5) From Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: “The brethren or kinsmen of Jesus were disgusted, when they found there was no prospect of worldly advantages from him.”
This tells you how entrenched these people were to their rebellious attitudes. Something that is a hallmark of their heritage. A good portion of the Old Testament deals with Jews rebelling and God warning them to repent. Read it, it’s a very instructional story. (Genesis 1 to Malachi 4)
During this time, the Feast of Booths was going on, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or by its Hebrew name, Sukkot, this celebration was the last of the fall festivals and was held at the end of the agricultural year when the grapes and olives were harvested in Israel. This was a time to thank God for all of the preceding year’s provisions and to pray for a good rainy season, which lasted from October through March. Sukkot was designed to remember the wilderness journey from Egypt to Canaan, when God made the people live in booths (Lev. 23:33–43). It was a beloved festival that the people looked forward to.
Jesus responds to His brothers: “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” (vv. 6-8) After telling them this, Jesus remained in Galilee. (v. 9)
After His brothers go off to the feast and know this Feast of Booths lasts 7 days, Jesus goes also to the feast, but in private. (v. 10) Many people were looking for Him. The Pharisees because they wanted to kill Him, but others also were looking for Him and talking about Him. Some said He was good and others said He led people astray. And nobody said anything too loudly because they feared the Pharisees. (vv. 11-13)
During the middle of the feast, Jesus went up and began to teach in the Temple. (v. 14) The Jews, and I think this means all of them, marveled at what He said and the authority in how He said it. They knew who He was and where He was from and also knew that a simple carpenter could not have this knowledge. “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” (v. 15)
Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” (vv. 16-19) Jesus, when asked a question, always answered in a way that would educate those that would listen, these people had ears to hear, but they could not. (Isaiah 6:10, Jeremiah 5:21, Ezekiel 12:2, Matthew 13:15, Acts 28:27, Romans 11:8)
One of the things that has been perpetrated upon us is the perception that Jesus was a meek and mild and slightly effeminate man that just wanted to be your friend. Nothing could be further from the truth. Joshua 5:13-15 is an example of the pre-incarnate Christ, with a sword drawn, leading God’s people. Go Read It and disabuse yourselves of what has been pushed upon us, that of a mild Christ that just wants to love us and be our friend. He is our King and Savior!
Jesus never shied away from schooling those that confronted Him. He was never confrontational but the Truth is as hard as a brick wall when you run into it. And that’s all the Jews ever did, run into the Truth and it made them stupid. As evidenced by what comes next. The crowd shouted back to Him “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” (v. 20) This man cured many many people, (Luke 4:40) fed thousands (Mark 6:30-44, Matthew 15:32-39) and cast out demons, (Luke 4:35, Matthew 8:32) now they’re claiming He has a demon. Like I said, stupid, sin makes you stupid. Nehemiah 9 is where the people have returned from Babylon and they are repenting their sins. They recite a brief chronology of knowing God, rejecting God, being punished by God, repenting to God. Rinse and repeat. Read it, it is a short chapter and will give you a better understanding of these Jews and their stiff necks. We share in their stiff necked ways.
Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (v. 21-24) We should also pay attention to this lesson in this day and age. Do not judge by appearances. We base most of our judgement on looks. Even Samuel the High Priest was fooled when told to view Jesse’s sons. Samuel picked what he thought looked good, but no, God wanted somebody with a good heart, not tall and handsome. Read the story in 1 Samuel 16, it’s a good one. So, do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (v. 24)
I think we are going to stop right here and let you read about young David being chosen in Samuel 16. Also think about how you judge things. And while you’re at it, read about how you should judge not lest you be judged. Judgement, in my opinion, is one of our major faults and sins. You can use these scriptures for study: Mat 7:1-5, Luke 6:37, Romans 2:1-2, James 4:11-12, Romans 14:10-13, Luke 6:41, 1 Corinthians 4:3-5, Romans 14:3-4, Ezekiel 16:52-56 Enjoy your time enriching your mind with God’s Words and reap the blessing of your obedience to Him.
For a more thorough unpacking of this portion of John 7, I enjoin you to watch this sermon by Ben Merkle. He does a very good job of explaining the scripture and you come away with a much better understanding of Christ and the unbelief of Him and His teachings in this part of the scripture. I count this as Providence that this sermon popped up in my YouTube feed while I was writing this. God is working in all of our lives, you just have to pause and recognize it, then pause again to praise and thank God for His work in you.