Christ, the Living Water
Study No. Fifteen. Chapter 7: 1-53 Jesus hesitates or stalls before going to Jerusalem. The atmosphere of the Jews, particularly the Pharisees, has changed to from hostility to a murderous intent.
Jesus will conceal Himself for a short while, and then He will teach openly. He will reveal His knowledge that there are those who seek His life. Some will ridicule this, others will ask whether this is not the man that the leaders have vowed to kill.
The leaders will send men to seize Him, but they will return empty handed. Jesus makes mention that His time is not yet come. As a matter of fact, it will not be until Spring at the Passover that His ‘time’ will have come.
While it is true that Jesus ‘nailed himself to the cross’, that is, purposely performed his miracles and stated His message in such a way as to make the religious leaders angry enough to want him dead … yet Jesus came to ‘seek and to save’ as many as he could. He literally wept over Jerusalem with a genuine passion saying, ‘I have tried to gather you together as a hen gathers her chicks … but you would not have it!’
Previously:
The miracle of the loaves and fishes
The interaction at the synagogue regarding Jesus being the bread of life
The desertion of many of the disciples
Verse 1
About six months have passed and it is now time for feast of Tabernacles. Jesus has purposely stayed away from Jerusalem because the Jews sought to kill him.
2. Feast of Tabernacles - commemorating life in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Held in early October
3-5 Jesus’ family (brothers) expect Jesus to go with them to Jerusalem. There is a strong note of sarcasm and unbelief in their suggestion that Jesus perform miracles there.
6-9 Jesus suggests they go without Him. He had a reason to be there at a specific time. In their case it made no difference when they would go. In Jesus’ case, Jesus presence would stir up antagonism, since he had denounced their sinfulness.
10 Jesus would be able to travel without a crowd following Him.
11-13 The Jews sought him. John uses two terms to describe those who surrounded Jesus. ‘Jews’ refers to the leaders, ‘people' refers to all the rest, even though the people are also Jews. It has been about 18 months since Jesus was here last. A lot of whispered arguing was taking place concerning Jesus.
14-15 ‘the middle’ The feast lasted 8 days.
16 My doctrine (teaching) “Is not from any of your schools, as a matter of fact, I did not invent it. It comes from the Father”
17-19 “If any wants to do his will, he will know …” A criticism of the Jews … You don’t really want to know God’s will. You are too busy with seeking your own glory. You do not keep Moses’ law.
Evidences that Jesus was not an imposter:
a. He at no time sought the praise of men – as some do today
b. His teachings totally exalted God … and humbled man
c. He ascribes all glory to God.
Why do you want to kill me? For breaking the Sabbath law? You break the Sabbath laws yourself.
20 ‘The people’, those who knew nothing of the plotting by ‘the Jews’. This conclusion (you must have a demon) is the only thing that made sense to why Jesus would think somebody is trying to kill Him.
21-24 “I did one work (on the Sabbath day) and you make such a huge issue over it”
A child was to be circumcised on the eighth day. If that day fell on a Sabbath it was ok. The circumcised baby was to ‘be washed’ on the third day after the operation. If that was the day that fell on the Sabbath, that also was ok. What Jesus is referring to though, is the fact that a surgery has taken place which leaves the baby in pain and less ‘whole’ than he was before. Jesus left the man at the pool of Bethesda completely whole. Which is better? By the way, how are we with laws? Do we try to understand the intent and spirit of each law we try to live by? 2Co 3:6 ¶ who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
25 ‘some of them from Jerusalem’. This is a distinction of ‘the people’, some (or many) of whom were from Galilee.
26-27 More confused disputing regarding Jesus’ identity. Their thought that no one would be able to know where the Messiah would come from had no real foundation. Some may have come to this conclusion from Da 7:13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven!”
Most should have been familiar with the prophecies which stated that Christ would come from Bethlehem. However no one seemed to know that was where Jesus had been born. They assumed he was born in Nazareth.
28-29 ‘You know my local parentage and dwelling … but He who Truly sent me … you don’t know.
30-36 An extreme division occurs. Some are now incensed beyond measure and would have killed him if they had been able. Others (many) become believers. This provokes ‘an official’ attempt to take him.
The ‘arresting’ party arrives and hears a large part of Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus comments no more regarding His origin. He does talk, however, about His leaving. This may be to say, “You want to get rid of me? I will be leaving soon enough.” But now Jesus turns the discussion around to say that he is going to a place that they cannot go to.
37-39 the ‘arrest party’ may have been trying to gather convicting evidence for the last couple of days.
‘the last day, that great day …”
1. they held a special ‘solemn assembly’
2. the offered sacrifices for the Jews only (they had included gentiles the previous day)
3. the first and last days were sabbath days, regardless of where they fell in the week. Le 23:39
4. On this day they finished reading the law (all five books of Moses)
5. On this day probably occurred the ceremony of drawing water from the pool of Siloam. On the last day of the feast it was customary to perform a solemn ceremony in this manner: The priest filled a golden vial with water from the fount of Siloam, which was borne with great solemnity, attended with the clangour of trumpets, through the gate of the temple, and being mixed with wine, was poured on the sacrifice on the altar. What was the origin of this custom is unknown. Some suppose, and not improbably, that it arose from an improper understanding of the passage in Isa 12:3: "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Barnes notes on the New Testament.
If anyone thirsts
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
Joh 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
Mt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
38 ‘out of his heart … ’ (Or some say a mistranslation and should read, ‘out of his temple …’ as in …
Ezekiel 47:1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.
Mt 5:13 ¶ "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one
.
Mt 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
40-53 conclusion: A serious division persists.
Jesus will conceal Himself for a short while, and then He will teach openly. He will reveal His knowledge that there are those who seek His life. Some will ridicule this, others will ask whether this is not the man that the leaders have vowed to kill.
The leaders will send men to seize Him, but they will return empty handed. Jesus makes mention that His time is not yet come. As a matter of fact, it will not be until Spring at the Passover that His ‘time’ will have come.
While it is true that Jesus ‘nailed himself to the cross’, that is, purposely performed his miracles and stated His message in such a way as to make the religious leaders angry enough to want him dead … yet Jesus came to ‘seek and to save’ as many as he could. He literally wept over Jerusalem with a genuine passion saying, ‘I have tried to gather you together as a hen gathers her chicks … but you would not have it!’
Previously:
The miracle of the loaves and fishes
The interaction at the synagogue regarding Jesus being the bread of life
The desertion of many of the disciples
Verse 1
About six months have passed and it is now time for feast of Tabernacles. Jesus has purposely stayed away from Jerusalem because the Jews sought to kill him.
2. Feast of Tabernacles - commemorating life in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Held in early October
3-5 Jesus’ family (brothers) expect Jesus to go with them to Jerusalem. There is a strong note of sarcasm and unbelief in their suggestion that Jesus perform miracles there.
6-9 Jesus suggests they go without Him. He had a reason to be there at a specific time. In their case it made no difference when they would go. In Jesus’ case, Jesus presence would stir up antagonism, since he had denounced their sinfulness.
10 Jesus would be able to travel without a crowd following Him.
11-13 The Jews sought him. John uses two terms to describe those who surrounded Jesus. ‘Jews’ refers to the leaders, ‘people' refers to all the rest, even though the people are also Jews. It has been about 18 months since Jesus was here last. A lot of whispered arguing was taking place concerning Jesus.
14-15 ‘the middle’ The feast lasted 8 days.
16 My doctrine (teaching) “Is not from any of your schools, as a matter of fact, I did not invent it. It comes from the Father”
17-19 “If any wants to do his will, he will know …” A criticism of the Jews … You don’t really want to know God’s will. You are too busy with seeking your own glory. You do not keep Moses’ law.
Evidences that Jesus was not an imposter:
a. He at no time sought the praise of men – as some do today
b. His teachings totally exalted God … and humbled man
c. He ascribes all glory to God.
Why do you want to kill me? For breaking the Sabbath law? You break the Sabbath laws yourself.
20 ‘The people’, those who knew nothing of the plotting by ‘the Jews’. This conclusion (you must have a demon) is the only thing that made sense to why Jesus would think somebody is trying to kill Him.
21-24 “I did one work (on the Sabbath day) and you make such a huge issue over it”
A child was to be circumcised on the eighth day. If that day fell on a Sabbath it was ok. The circumcised baby was to ‘be washed’ on the third day after the operation. If that was the day that fell on the Sabbath, that also was ok. What Jesus is referring to though, is the fact that a surgery has taken place which leaves the baby in pain and less ‘whole’ than he was before. Jesus left the man at the pool of Bethesda completely whole. Which is better? By the way, how are we with laws? Do we try to understand the intent and spirit of each law we try to live by? 2Co 3:6 ¶ who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
25 ‘some of them from Jerusalem’. This is a distinction of ‘the people’, some (or many) of whom were from Galilee.
26-27 More confused disputing regarding Jesus’ identity. Their thought that no one would be able to know where the Messiah would come from had no real foundation. Some may have come to this conclusion from Da 7:13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven!”
Most should have been familiar with the prophecies which stated that Christ would come from Bethlehem. However no one seemed to know that was where Jesus had been born. They assumed he was born in Nazareth.
28-29 ‘You know my local parentage and dwelling … but He who Truly sent me … you don’t know.
30-36 An extreme division occurs. Some are now incensed beyond measure and would have killed him if they had been able. Others (many) become believers. This provokes ‘an official’ attempt to take him.
The ‘arresting’ party arrives and hears a large part of Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus comments no more regarding His origin. He does talk, however, about His leaving. This may be to say, “You want to get rid of me? I will be leaving soon enough.” But now Jesus turns the discussion around to say that he is going to a place that they cannot go to.
37-39 the ‘arrest party’ may have been trying to gather convicting evidence for the last couple of days.
‘the last day, that great day …”
1. they held a special ‘solemn assembly’
2. the offered sacrifices for the Jews only (they had included gentiles the previous day)
3. the first and last days were sabbath days, regardless of where they fell in the week. Le 23:39
4. On this day they finished reading the law (all five books of Moses)
5. On this day probably occurred the ceremony of drawing water from the pool of Siloam. On the last day of the feast it was customary to perform a solemn ceremony in this manner: The priest filled a golden vial with water from the fount of Siloam, which was borne with great solemnity, attended with the clangour of trumpets, through the gate of the temple, and being mixed with wine, was poured on the sacrifice on the altar. What was the origin of this custom is unknown. Some suppose, and not improbably, that it arose from an improper understanding of the passage in Isa 12:3: "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Barnes notes on the New Testament.
If anyone thirsts
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
Joh 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
Mt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
38 ‘out of his heart … ’ (Or some say a mistranslation and should read, ‘out of his temple …’ as in …
Ezekiel 47:1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.
Mt 5:13 ¶ "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one
.
Mt 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
40-53 conclusion: A serious division persists.