Summary of passage: Still at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus preaches. All were impressed by his learning and Jesus says it comes from God and if you work for God it is truth, not honor for yourself. Jesus says the people are trying to kill him, which they deny and say he is demon-possessed. Jesus points out their hypocrisy, saying circumcision can be performed on the Sabbath but not his healing of a man who could not walk.
There are many who doubt he is the Christ, especially since they know Jesus and where he came from. Jesus says he is from God. Many try to seize him but they can’t because it is not Jesus’ time yet. Some believed in him. The Pharisees sent guards to arrest him. Jesus says how he is only here for a short time and where he goes, they cannot come. No one understood he was speaking of his death and resurrection.
Jesus continues speaking and on the last day of the Feast repeats his call for those thirsty to come to him and receive streams of living water or the Spirit.
Questions:
5) Those who speak on his own do so to gain honor for himself but those who work for God speak the truth. Those working for God will know his teaching is from God.
6a) Healed the man who could not walk. Keeping the Sabbath holy and doing no work.
b) That they are hypocrites and do not follow the law of Moses and basically interpret it however they want.
7a) God’s. They didn’t know him because they don’t know God. Men are of the devil, the darkness, corrupt, and blind to Him. Their hearts are not His.
b) Personal Question. My answer: All the difference. I am inept on my own. With him anything is possible.
Conclusions: I love how Jesus points out man’s hypocrisy over and over again and points out their hearts to them. If you don’t know God, you won’t know Jesus. If you don’t know Jesus, you won’t know God. And the Holy Spirit will never come either. Love it!
End Notes: The Jewish leaders questions Jesus’ credentials since they cannot question his content. Jesus had never been the disciple of a recognized Jewish teacher. Jesus never says he’s self-taught. He’s God taught. Just reading the words won’t cut it. You have to obey God and the words will infiltrate your heart.
“The Jews” are distinct from “the crowds” (verse 12)–all of which are Jews. “The Jews” usually refer to the leadership.
In this Gospel, only God is spoken of as “being” and Jesus (here).
Jesus tells them how he always keeps the law and none of them do. Yet he is the one they are trying to kill when they are the guilty ones.
The “crowd” didn’t know Jesus was being sought for his healing of the man by the well so they thought he was crazy thinking he was wanted. They weren’t the leadership or those who knew of the plot. The accusation of “demon-possessed” seems to have been a popular one back in the day as it shows up again in John in 8:48-52; 10:20-21)
Circumcision can be major surgery if one is older. Jesus is saying you are cutting people on the Sabbath and I am making them whole. Appearances can be deceptive (hence Justice wears a blindfold).
He cites the law of circumcision (Leviticus 12:3; Exodus 12:44) to show that work was done on the Sabbath, necessary work, which deeds of mercy fall into. This law actually went back to Abraham (Genesis 17:10-12). His point was that the leadership did not understand what the Sabbath meant.
The people from Jerusalem know Jesus is a wanted man and are wondering why he is still preaching.
Doubt of the Messiah again is routed in the Bible but twisted with man’s preconceived ideas of the Word. Malachi 3:1 says that God’s messenger will come suddenly to the temple. This was the kind of saying that made them think the Messiah would come out of nowhere to show Himself to Israel. That he would just appear and be a magical being. Even though God’s Word never says this this is the idea the Jews have built up in their minds.
Jesus is probably being sarcastic in verse 28. “You know me; yet, you doubt!” Jesus repeats he is from God.
Jesus could not be arrested until his time had come. Till then he was protected by God. (John 7:46)
Many believed. After all, who could do as much as Jesus has already done?
Jesus assures the temple guards he will go away–at the appointed time.
The people did not understand Jesus was speaking of heaven so they guessed the Greeks. From the time of the exile, many jews lived outside the Holy Land and could be found in most cities throughout the Roman Empire.
The Feast of Tabernacles lasted eight days. During the first seven days water from the Pool of Siloam was carried in a golden pitcher and poured out at the altar to remind everyone of the water God miraculously provided for a thirsty Israel in the wilderness. Most probably on the eighth day there was no pouring of water – only prayers for water – to remind them that they came into the Promised Land.
On the eighth day the people ceased to dwell in the tabernacles and was probably no feasting. Philo says it was a solemn conclusion.
This was the last feast-time Jesus would spend in Jerusalem before the Passover of His death. This was the last day of the last feast; the last time He would speak to many of them before His crucifixion.
Notice Jesus said IN A LOUD VOICE. This was the most important thing he said the entire time so you’d better listen (personally, I can’t picture Jesus screaming so this must have been a sight!). Also, teachers usually sat so Jesus standing was to draw attention.
The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles emphasized how God provided water to Israel in the wilderness on their way to Canaan. Jesus boldly called people to Himself to drink and satisfy their deepest thirst, their spiritual thirst.
Anyone is invited. Since there is no water being poured out on the 8th day of the feast, this was an impressive statement indeed. Jesus is the water.
Drinking is a common act. All of us can drink. But do we drink of the right stuff?
If you trust in Jesus, living water will flow from your heart and into your life and the life of those around you. Revelation 22:1 (which was not written yet at this time) speaks of waters flowing after the End Times perpetually. What a picture!
The Greek is “out of the belly”.
Zechariah that one day a fountain would be open to the house of David, and living waters would go out from Jerusalem (Zechariah 13:1, 14:8); and of Isaiah that God would pour water upon the thirsty (Isaiah 44:3, 55:1).
The Spirit is not yet given until after the Ascension and Pentecost (Acts 2)
“Given” was added. The true meaning is “it was not yet spirit”. It is more a sense of “working” and “dispensation”.
“Glorified” is Jesus’ exaltation, crucifixion, and resurrection. The fullness of the Spirit’s work depends on Jesus’ prior work of salvation.
