John Chapter 7:25-53 Jesus’ at the Temple during the Festival of Booths

*Last week we discussed Jesus going to the Feast of Shelters or Tabernacles.  What did the Jewish leaders want to do with Jesus and why? Kill him, because he healed on the Sabbath.

 

Read John 7:25-26

25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 

26 But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? 

 

*Who controlled the masses?  The religious leaders

*Do you think this is true today?

 

Read John 7:25-26

27 But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.” 

 

*Is this true, does no one know where the Messiah comes from? This is actually a myth in Israel that the true Messiah’s earthly origins would be a mystery.  But this was easily disproven from scripture: prophet Micah had prophesied that the “One to be Ruler” will come out of “Bethlehem” (Micah 5:2).

 

*By the way, why might God have chosen a place called, “Bethlehem” as the place of Jesus’ birth? Means house of bread, isn’t that what Jesus calls himself, the bread of life.

*Where do they think Jesus comes from? Maybe Galilee – that was Jesus main place he was at during his ministry, his headquarters.

*Who vindicated Jesus’ assertion of a murder plot?
Some in the crowd who were “from Jerusalem” (John 7:25), where the Jewish “rulers” (John 7:26) lived.  Not everyone in the crowd were visitors for the feast. Some were locals to whom the murder plot apparently had leaked out, and who now wondered if the rulers’ silence amounted to their recognition of Jesus as the “Christ” (John 7:26)

 

Read John 7:28-29

28 While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 

29 But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” 

 

*In the end, does it really matter where Jesus came from on earth?  What really matters?  He is sent from God

*Remember in the temple when Jesus was a baby, who came up to him and knew who he was?  Anna and Simeon

*How much do we need to know about Jesus to have salvation?

 

 

Read John 7:30-31

30 Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. 

31 Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?” 

 

 

*Why couldn’t they take Him? “Because His hour had not yet come.” (John 7:30)

*Do you think their belief was a life changing belief? Should we believe because of the miracles?

 

Read John 7:32

32 When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. 

 

*Why did the Jewish leaders finally decide to arrest Jesus?  Can’t have their followers turn to Jesus

Read John 7:33-34

33 But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 

34 You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.” 

 

*Why do you think Jesus was only on earth for a short amount of time?  Would staying longer get more following him?  No, his death and resurrection made people follow him

*How much longer is “a little while longer” in John 7:33?
Jesus will be on the cross at the next Passover, which is six months after this Feast of Tabernacles

Read John 7:35-36

35 The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! 

36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?” 

 

*Where do the Jews speculate He may go?
To the Jewish communities dispersed in the Greek speaking world outside Israel.

*Where is Jesus going? To die on the cross for our sins

 

Read John 7:37-39
37
 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 

38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 

39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

 

*There is a part in the feast of Tabernacles where they draw water from Siloam, in commemoration of the refreshing stream which had come forth miraculously out of the rock at Meribah (Ex. 17:1-7).  How does God giving water in the desert like Jesus?  Water flowed from a rock, Jesus is known as our rock.  Water comes from our Savior to keep us from death.

 

*Where else did Jesus compare himself to water? Woman at the well
*Coming back to the feast of Booths, a feast intended to commemorate Israel’s entry into the Promised Land and ultimately to foretell their arrival in the Kingdom.  Would this promise be fulfilled in Jesus’ first or second coming? Second coming is when Jesus’ kingdom, the rock, will come and break apart the nations and  rule the world (we see a rock destroying the foot of the statue in Daniel representing the kingdom of the world at the time of the second coming).
When would the Holy Spirit be given? At the Pentecost as described in Acts 2

Read 7:40-42

40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” 

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 

42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” 

43So the crowd was divided about him. 

44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. 

45 When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 

46 “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded. 

47 “Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked.

48 “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? 

49 This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”

50 Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 

51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked. 

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!” 

53 Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home.

 

*Is that true?  Had no prophet ever come from Galilee? The great Greek scholar, A.T. Robertson, comments: “As a matter of fact, Jonah, Hosea, Nahum, possibly also Elijah, Elisha, and Amos were from Galilee.”

 

*What was the effect of Jesus’ declaration in John 7:37-38, that he was living water? Make the crowd question deeper. At least some are now talking about the Bethlehem prophecy.

*Did the crowd keep the officers from arresting Jesus? No, the words Jesus “spoke” (John 7:46) kept them from arresting Him.

*How do you think Jesus spoke? With authority, he is God

 

*Did a single Jewish leader believe in Jesus?
Yes, at least one of them – Nicodemus – did believe.

*Anybody remember  who Nicodemus was? He was the Pharisee who came to Jesus at night – John chapter 3

*Should we allow others to intimidate us to not believe in Jesus? No stay strong

 

 

On the last day of the festival the High Priest will fill this gold pitcher of water and pour it.  Then everyone will sing

 

Psalm 118:25-26

25Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success. 

26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD . We bless you from the house of the LORD .

 

*How is this Psalm fulfilled in Jesus?  He is our Savior

 

Additional Questions:

  • Do people not believe in Jesus for the same reasons they did not believe in Him during his ministry?
  • Have you ever wondered what more Jesus could have done to have people come to Him during his ministry?
  • There are many parallels between Jesus and the Festival of Booths. How does knowing this strengthen your faith?