JOHN 7
THE PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED, UNSURE IF JESUS IS THE SAVIOR
One of the annual celebrations, the Feast of Booths, takes place in Jerusalem. Among the Jewish people at the feast, there are many different opinions of Jesus. Some think that He is a good man, but others believe that He is leading them astray. Jesus enters the feast privately, keeping a low profile, since the time had not yet come for His arrest.
During the feast, Jesus goes to the temple to teach. The Jewish people who encounter Jesus are very impressed by His knowledge, but confused by the source of His wisdom. Jesus responds, telling the people that His teaching is not His own, but comes from God who sent Him. He explains that whoever speaks of their own authority is seeking glory for themselves, but whoever seeks glory for God is speaking truth.
Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the people, asking why it is wrong for Him to heal on the Sabbath day when they practice circumcision on the Sabbath day. Jewish leaders considered circumcision on the Sabbath to be lawful because it was an act of redemption, so Jesus challenges them by saying isn’t healing the whole body also an act of redemption? He states that the people want to kill Him, but they respond with confusion. The audience is unaware that the very people who Jesus came to save will soon reject Him, leading to His arrest and death.
Some of the people in Jerusalem wonder if the authorities believe that Jesus is the Savior. Talking amongst themselves, they argue that no one knows where the Savior will come from. These people are not familiar with the teaching of the prophet Micah, who foretold that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born (Micah 5:2). Because they are unfamiliar with God’s Word, they make incorrect assumptions about Jesus.
Jesus teaches that He has not come on His own accord, He follows the will of God who sent Him. Because many people do not believe Him, He tells them that they do not know God, the one who sent Him. Although Jesus has many skeptics, there are many who believe He is the Savior and trust in the miracles He provided as signs.
The Pharisees send officials, hoping to arrest Jesus. Jesus tells the people that He will be with them a little longer before returning to God who sent Him and tells them that they will not be able to go where He goes, and many are confused.
On the last day of the feast, Jesus proclaims that whoever believes in Him will be given a heart flowing with living water. He is referring to the Holy Spirit, which will come to live within believers at Pentecost (Acts 2). Because this has not occurred yet, the people are perplexed by this message.
Because the consensus of the people is so divided, the Pharisees do not arrest Jesus. Remembering the Scriptures, some of the men realize that the Savior will come from the line of David and be born in Bethlehem, two qualities true of Jesus. Nicodemus, a Pharisee who knew Jesus, advocates for Him, saying He should not be arrested without a fair hearing.
