< John 7 >

The Jews, the inhabitants of Judea, were determined to kill Jesus, so he remained in Galilee, v.1Waiting for response for John 7:1 but even his own brothers mocked him, for they did not believe.v.5Waiting for response for John 7:5

The Jews expected Jesus to attend the Feast of Tabernacles at this time and debated among themselves concerning his status, but secretly because they feared the Jewish leaders.

When Jesus then taught in the temple, the people were amazed at his teaching because he had not been educated in their institutions of learning.vs.14-15Waiting for response for John 7:14-15 The explanation, of course, is that Jesus was inspired by God, so he said: “My doctrine in not mine, but his that sent me”,v.16Waiting for response for John 7:16 adding that men and women will accept his teaching is God’s if they sincerely seek to do his will.v.17Waiting for response for John 7:17

The Jews condemned Jesus and sought to kill him for healing on the Sabbath day even though they themselves also did certain works on the Sabbath.vs.19-23Waiting for response for John 7:19-23 Hypocritically they exonerated themselves but condemned Jesus. He instructed them to “judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” v.24Waiting for response for John 7:24 and this is a vital principle for us to apply in our lives.

The Jews debated whether or not he was the Christ v.26Waiting for response for John 7:26 and some were convinced by the miracles he performed.v.31Waiting for response for John 7:31

The Pharisees and chief priests sent officers to apprehend Jesus but they did not carry out this commission when they heard his teaching. They said: “Never man spake like this man”.v.46Waiting for response for John 7:46 Some of what Jesus spoke, however, was enigmatic. He declared they could not go where he was going,v.34Waiting for response for John 7:34 which they did not understand although they made some suggestions.vs.35-36Waiting for response for John 7:35-36 In fact Jesus would be going to heaven and no other man would go there. He also invited those thirsting after righteousness to come to him and drink, i.e. to imbibe his teaching which was by the Spirit of God.v.37Waiting for response for John 7:37 Furthermore, the promise to believers in those days was that they would be recipients of the Holy Spirit vs.38-39Waiting for response for John 7:38-39 and we read later, in Acts, how this enabled them to do similar works to those done by Jesus himself. Nevertheless, the Jewish authorities continued to oppose Jesus and to plot his death, and they would achieve this in the end, but by unjust means. Nicodemus recognised this injustice and questioned their behaviour: “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” v.51Waiting for response for John 7:51 In the event the Jews finally condemned Jesus to death without the justice which, by the law of God, they were required to apply.

One big stumblingblock in many minds was the prophecy that Jesus was the Messiah/Christ was that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem vs.40-42Waiting for response for John 7:40-42 but Jesus was “of Nazareth” in Galilee.v.52Waiting for response for John 7:52 We can easily explain this anomaly, but people like Nicodemus v.50Waiting for response for John 7:50 could offer no solution.