Question
IF ANYONE CHOOSES TO DO GOD’S WILL
John 7:1-24
Key Verse 17
If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
1. Read verses 1-5. Why did Jesus purposely stay away from Judea? (1) What is the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles and its significance for Jesus? (2, Lev 23:33-44) What did Jesus’ brothers urge him to do? (3-5)
2. Read verses 6-13. What was Jesus’ reply to his brothers? (6-9) What did he mean by “the right time for me”? (6) Why does the world hate Jesus? (7) Why did he later go to Jerusalem in secret? (10-11) What was the crowd at the Feast saying about Jesus? (12-13)
3. Read verses 14-18. When and where did Jesus begin to teach? (14) Why were the Jews amazed? (15) What is the way to find out if Jesus’ teaching is really true? (17) What is one criteria by which we can know that Jesus is a man of truth? (18)
4. Read verses 19-24. What was the Jew’s problem? (19) What was the one miracle Jesus did that astonished them? (21, Jn 5:8-10) Why was it truly lawful that Jesus healed on the Sabbath? (22-23) How can we make a right judgment? (24)
Manuscript
Message
If Anyone Chooses To Do God’s Will
John 7:1-24
Key verse 7:17
If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
In today’s passage, we learn that making the decision to do God's will is the key to understanding and following Jesus.
Look at verse 1:
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.
In the previous passage, many of Jesus’ disciples stopped following him because they didn’t like his message. Jesus’ message was that the will of God is to believe in him. Jesus offered them eternal life, but they were more interested in where their next meal would come from. Jesus continued to travel around teaching the people, but he stayed away from Judea because people there were waiting for a chance to kill hi.
Look at verses 2-5:
2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
During the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, Jews came from many places to Jerusalem. Jesus’ brothers thought this would be a good chance for Jesus to do some miracles in front of a large crowd and become famous. So they advised Jesus to go to Jerusalem for the feast and show himself to the world. The passage says that they gave this advice to Jesus because they did not believe in him. At first, it is surprising that Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in him, but this was probably because they had known him all their lives and could only see him from a human perspective. How did Jesus respond to them?
Look at verse 6:
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.
Jesus rejected their suggestion because “the right time” for him had not yet come. By contrast, anytime was the right time for his brothers. They could go where they wanted whenever they wanted because they were doing their own will. Jesus, however, went according to God’s time because he was serving God’s will.
Most likely, when Jesus said, “my time has not yet come,” he meant the time for him to die on the cross for the sins of the world and rise from the dead. Jesus was not avoiding Judea because he was afraid of death, but he understood that there was still work for him to do before that time came.
Look at verses 7-9:
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.” 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.
Jesus’ brothers could not be hated by the world because they went along with the flow of the world. Jesus, however, was hated because he testified that what the world does is evil. Jesus’ example shows that doing God’s will is not always the best way to make friends; no one likes to hear that they are doing evil, and whoever delivers such a message will not be liked either.
Look at verse 10:
10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.
Jesus’ brothers must have thought that Jesus meant that he was not going to the feast, but Jesus did not say that. He said, “My time has not yet come,” and he most likely meant that the time for him to enter Jerusalem publicly and die had not yet come. So he traveled to Jerusalem in secret.
Look at verses 11-13:
11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, “Where is that man?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
There was a disagreement about who Jesus was. Some saw him as a good man who does good things. But others saw him as a deceiver. They debated about Jesus with hushed voices because they didn’t want the religious leaders to hear them talking about Jesus. In such an environment, it would be hard to know what the truth was.
Look at verses 14-15:
14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?”
When Jesus finally showed up, people were amazed because Jesus was not formally educated. The religious education of Jewish rabbis was rigorous--many years of study. But Jesus was a better teacher than any of them. He studied the Bible himself and he understood it personally. The people who heard him could not see past Jesus’ outward appearance and human background. Overall, the people did not know Jesus.
Look at verses 16-19
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
Jesus says that if anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether his teaching comes from God or from himself. What does it mean to do God’s will? In John 6:40, Jesus says, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” To do God’s will is to believe in Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus have eternal life and will be raised from the dead at the last day. Jesus, himself, did God’s will with resurrection faith. He knew that he would be killed, but he did not turn back from doing God’s will because he knew that God would raise him from the dead. This faith helps man not to be afraid of anything or anyone, but rise above the circumstances, and lead people to the kingdom of God, overcoming "all" hardships, difficulties, obstacles.
What does it practically mean to choose to do God's will? To “believe” may sound vague, but it practically means to believe that God sent Jesus to save us, to come to Jesus for life, to follow him, and to persevere in following Jesus to the end.
Why do people not do God's will? There are several reasons. First, they are already pursuing the things of this world. They are ignorant that the flesh counts for nothing and that the things of this world will not last.
Second, some people are driven by the desire to, as Jesus’ brothers said, “become a public figure” and “show” themselves to the world.
Third, some people do not do God’s will because they are afraid of other people, just as many people in Jerusalem would not speak up because they were afraid of the religious leaders who wanted to kill Jesus.
Fourth, some people live to gain honor for themselves rather than God.
For all these reasons, people choose not to do God’s will. As a result, they remain ignorant about who Jesus is.
However, if anyone chooses to do God’s will, everything is different. First, like Jesus, that person is able to teach the Bible with true understanding so that even critics will be amazed by his teaching. Second, those who choose to do God’s will can learn 'directly' from God. Third, that person is able to speak "not on his own" but 'in and through' God. Fourth, as a person chooses to do God’s will and speak God’s words, he will gain honor for God rather than himself, and God’s glory is revealed and God’s name will be honored.
Therefore, let us choose to do God’s will. Let’s pray that God may raise up many Bible teachers for his glory.
Look at verses 20-24:
20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all astonished. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”
Jesus challenged the people to make a right judgement. So far, they judged by mere appearances. Why did they do so? It was because they did not choose to do God’s will. When we pursue the things of this world and honor for ourselves, our understanding becomes superficial and our insight is dull. Even though we seem to serve God outwardly, our actions are full of contradictions. Only by choosing to do God’s will can we start making right judgements.
Thorough this passage, we learn that choosing to do God’s will is the key to knowing who Jesus is and bringing glory to God.
One word: If anyone chooses to do God’s will
Manuscript
Biblenote
IF ANYONE CHOOSES TO DO GOD’S WILL
John 7:1-24
Key Verse 17
If anyone chooses to do God's will,
he will find out whether my teaching comes from God
or whether I speak on my own.
Revealed in this passage is the love and grace of our Lord Jesus who risks his life to proclaim the words of truth and life. And revealed here are his humility and all consuming passion to glorify his Father.
Presented here is man’s desperately wicked inner state: (1) His spiritual deadness, blinded by the love of this world’s glory and praise, rendering him incapable of discerning what the truth is; and (2) his intense hatred of the powerful light of Jesus’ truth which reveals his sin.
Explained here is how men can receive Jesus’ teaching with a humble, believing heart like the Samaritans, apprehending the light of his truth with joy and faith, knowing it with certainty to be the truth without seeing miracles, being drawn and attracted to come to him rather than being repelled with hostility, unbelief and hardening of heart.
1. Read verses 1-5.
ANSWER:
Jn 7:1-5 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Why did Jesus purposely stay away from Judea? (1)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.
Ever since the healing of the invalid in Jerusalem 1 ½ years ago, his opponents had been attempting to kill him (Jn 5:8,18); and as time progressed, their hatred increased.
It was not a lack of courage that made Jesus stay in Galilee and avoid going to Judea, but an awareness of the Father's perfect timing. It was not his time yet.
Opposition and hostility of those in darkness to our Lord has now become more intense and broad-based. This will steadily deepen from now to the end of his public ministry (chapter 12).
What is the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles and its significance for Jesus? (2, Lev 23:33-44)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near,
Lev 23:33-44 The LORD said to Moses, 34 "Say to the Israelites: `On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven days present offerings made to the LORD by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work. 37 ("`These are the LORD's appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the LORD by fire -- the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38 These offerings are in addition to those for the LORD's Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the LORD.) 39 "`So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. 40 On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 43 so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'" 44 So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed feasts of the LORD.
Deu 16:13-15 Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. 14 Be joyful at your Feast -- you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. 15 For seven days celebrate the Feast to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a joyful, weeklong celebration. It began on the 15th day of the seventh month (September/October) on the Jewish calendar, exactly six months after the Passover. All Jewish men were required to appear before the LORD (Deu 16:16). People camped out in booths to remember God’s faithfulness to Israel during the wilderness wanderings.
Significance for Jesus: Only six months remained before his crucifixion.
We will see how Jesus uses the ceremonies at this feast, the outpouring of water at the altar (7:37) and the lighting of the grand candelabra in the temple courts (8:12), to illustrate his teachings. Jesus uses the imagery of Judaism to reveal his identity and promises.
What did Jesus’ brothers urge him to do? (3-5)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:3-5 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Essentially Jesus’ half-brothers were telling him, ‘You can’t be famous when you hide like this! If you have all this miracle power, why don’t you go to Jerusalem and make yourself really famous?’
Because the gathering in Jerusalem brought together pilgrims from every section of Palestine, Jesus' brothers saw an excellent opportunity for him to acquire some publicity.
Their suggestion may have been more sarcastic than serious, since they did not believe in him (5).
The brothers of Jesus never seemed to be supportive of his ministry before his death and resurrection (see also Mk 3:21) but that changed after his resurrection (Acts 1:14).
Man’s incredible blindness is revealed by this statement: “even his own brothers did not believe in him” (5; 1:10-11; 6:36). Having grown up with him, observing firsthand his perfect life and character and hearing his wisdom, his half-brothers had been furnished every day with the evidence of his divine glory. Plus, they either saw his miracles with their own eyes or heard about them from the eyewitness testimony of others such as their own mother (Jn 2:3,5). Nevertheless, their response to the evidence was far different from that of the people of Sychar (Jn 4:39). Tons of evidence concerning Jesus’ identity was presented to them and yet they still did not believe in him.
This illustrates how sinful man is unable to apprehend the truth concerning Jesus’ identity no matter how much evidence he is furnished (Jn 1:5, 10:25-26; 12:37).
Jesus’ half-brothers were blinded in part by their knowledge about his human background (Jn 4:44; Mat 13:57) and their expection that the Messiah would be a Jewish political king. Yet they might also have been envious of the popularity Jesus was receiving. This craving for one’s own honor causes spiritual blindness (18).
Jesus was rejected and scorned even by his own brothers, those of his own family and flesh and blood. He was, indeed, despised and rejected by the world (Jn 1:10-11; Isa 53:3). If Jesus was rejected even by his family, we should expect that this may be our experience as well (Luk 14:26; Mat 10:21-22, 34-39; Jn 15:18-20).
2. Read verses 6-13.
ANSWER:
Jn 7:6-13 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?" 12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
What was Jesus’ reply to his brothers? (6-9)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:6-9 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.
He told them that it was not time yet for him to go to Jerusalem.
Because Jesus was completely submitted to the will of his Father, the timing of the Father was important.
The Father’s timing is just as important as his will.
But for Jesus' brothers who were not submitted to God's will, any time was fine. The world didn’t hate them because they were of the world and the world loves its own (15:19).
Jesus’ reply strongly resembles the one he gave his mother at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.
What did he mean by “the right time for me”? (6)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.
Jesus was referring to the time set by his Father. There was a proper time set by his Father for him to do each of his actions in order to bring to fulfillment his death on the cross at the appointed time. If Jesus went to Jerusalem and revealed himself right away rather than waiting on his Father’s perfect time, it might hinder his ministry and bring about his death too early.
The right time for Jesus’ exaltation was different from theirs and involved the cross.
Why does the world hate Jesus? (7)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.
Because he testifies that what it does is evil. The world regarded him as an alien and antagonist because he condemned its evil works.
This shows the desperately lost condition of sinful man. Jesus spoke the truth in love to show men their sin and of their need to come to him to be saved, yet they hated it intensely. So much was the light of truth hated by sinful man that they wanted to kill the Lord of glory!
Application:
1:1 bible study is a good opportunity to testify to the truth in love that what someone does is evil (Eph 4:15, Lev 19:17). If we are rejected and hated because of Jesus' truth, we are blessed (Mat 5:11-12) and our labor is not in vain (1Co 15:59) and the word we teach is not without power to save (Jn 5:25, 6:63; Isa 55:11).
Why did he later go to Jerusalem in secret? (10-11)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:10-11 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?"
He went there to preach and to fulfill his duty as a Jew, as one born under law (Gal 4:4). Yet he went in secret to avoid being caught and killed by the Jews who were waiting for him there, watching for him (11).
His secret departure for Jerusalem was not an act of deception.
To do mission work in places that are hostile to evangelism, it may be necessary to keep our identity a secret, as Jesus did here (contrary to what is taught in Mat 10:32).
Jewish pilgrims to the feasts traveled in caravans. This was so they could talk among themselves and be protected from wild beasts and from robbers.
His brothers had wanted him to do his miracles openly in Jerusalem but Jesus went secretly to Jerusalem. As we shall see, Jesus did no miracles there to dazzle the people and thereby induce them to believe but rather proclaimed the powerful words of life. The point here is that Jesus does not seek glory for himself. Those who are blinded by the love of glory, power and acclaim in this world do not have hearts which can apprehend the light of the glory of Christ as revealed on the shameful cross and believe in such a humble king (17-18, 5:44).
What was the crowd at the Feast saying about Jesus? (12-13)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:12-13 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
(See the above underlined text). Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him.
Jesus divides people. Those who heard his words couldn't remain neutral. They took sides one way or another about who Jesus was, whether he was a good man or a deceiver.
The crowds who were attracted by Jesus’ teachings were still unable to grasp his true identity. They thought that he was merely a “good” man. Their confused idea about Jesus was like that mentioned in Mat 16:14, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
The people who favored him were intimidated by the religious hierarchy, which was hostile toward Jesus. The atmosphere was tense, and Jesus did not wish to precipitate a crisis at this time.
Those who bad opinion of Jesus were afraid to speak for fear that they might make a mistake in the form of their condemnation of him and get themselves in deep trouble.
3. Read verses 14-18.
ANSWER:
Jn 7:14-18 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" 16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
When and where did Jesus begin to teach? (14)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.
Halfway through the Feast in the temple courts.
The feast continued eight days. So it was about four days after the Feast began.
Though Jesus avoided a grand entrance, he now teaches boldly.
He never shrank back from proclaiming the truth (Mat 10:28).
Why were the Jews amazed? (15)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"
Act 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
They were amazed by his Scriptural knowledge and understanding and the authority with which he spoke (Jn 7:40-41, 46; Mat 7:28-29). But the focal point of their astonishment was "how" he could teach without having been taught in their schools. They knew that Jesus had not studied or been a disciple under a prominent rabbi. The Jews taught their law and tradition in celebrated schools.
Jesus spoke so insightfully and powerfully that even his enemies marveled at his ability!
Jesus’ teaching was not originated by him. His teaching is divine in its origin and its nature. This argues against all the theories that Jesus’ teachings can be traced to some school of thought such as the Essenes, Buddism, Plato, or whatever. Jesus never even studied such things.
We don’t need a seminary degree to teach the Bible. Jesus and his disciples did not have such credentials (Paul was the exception). Our competence, credentials and authority as Bible teachers is from God as it was for them (Act 4:13; 2Co 3:1,5; Exo 4:11-12; Acts 1:8).
What is the way to find out if Jesus’ teaching is really true? (17)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
Essentially, the way is to sincerely repent. If anyone “chooses” to do God’s will, he will find out that Jesus’ teaching is true and from God. The word chooses can also be translated as determined. Anyone who is sincerely determined to live by God’s truth will discover the light of God’s truth in Jesus’ teachings.
The Jews to whom he spoke were not doing God’s will; they were not doing the things God commanded them through Moses in the Law (19; Psa 40:8). Rather, they followed the corrupt desires of their sinful nature. They diligently studied the Scriptures but did not do what it says (Jn 5:39; Jas 1:22). In the darkness, they could not rightly apprehend the light of God’s truth in Jesus’ teaching (Jn 1:5, 3:19-20, 8:43; 1Jn 4:6). They needed to sincerely repent.
The Jews challenged Jesus’ capacity to teach; in turn, he challenged their capacity to listen.
This explains how we can receive his teaching with a humble, believing heart like the Samaritans, apprehending the light of his truth with joy and faith, knowing it with certainty to be the truth without even seeing miracles, being drawn and attracted to come to him rather than being repelled with hostility, unbelief and hardening of heart.
God is pleased to reveal the light of truth to those whose hearts are committed to seek the truth (Jer 29:13; Ro 12:2; Mat 11:25; Pro 2:1-6).
Jesus chose not to show his glory to the world by means of extraordinary miracles as his brothers had suggested (3-4). Jesus refused to please the Jews who demanded to be dazzled continually by signs and wonders in order to believe. He instead told them to choose to do God's humbling, transforming, perfect and pleasing will in order to have the capability to perceive the light of truth in his teaching.
Spiritual truth can be apprehended, not just by the faculty of our reason according to our analysis of facts and proofs, but by the eyes of our heart when our heart is thusly repentant. We arrive at saving belief in Jesus by the mighty work of the Holy Spirit impressing the truth of who Jesus is upon our hearts through the word of God (Jn 6:63; 1Th 1:4-5; 1Pe 1:23). Christianity is not fundamentally an evidential belief system but a revelational belief system (1Joh 5:20, Mat 16:17).
Without a heart that is thusly repentant, we are not able to properly evaluate Jesus’ teaching and make a right judgment concerning it.
Skeptics may think highly of themselves as neutral arbiters of the truth, who have the smarts to rightly assess what the truth is according to their reason and analysis. But this idea is false! Skepticism toward Jesus is the product of a heart darkened by unrepentance and lack of commitment to live by the truth. No amount of proof or miracles can convince a person committed to non-commitment (Jn 10:25-26, 12:37; Luk 16:31; 1Ki 11:9).
What is one criteria by which we can know that Jesus is a man of truth? (18)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
By his commitment to work for the honor of God.
Jesus was God-taught and was sent by God. He worked for the honor of his Father, rather than for his own honor (Jn 8:50,54; 5:41,43).
By our commitment to work for the honor of God.
Jesus was telling the Jews why they could not recognize him as a man of truth or recognize the truth of his teaching: They worked for their own honor (Jn 5:44, 12:43; Mat 23:5-7). People who seek their own glory cannot perceive the light of the glory of Jesus (Jn 5:44; Psa 36:1-2; Pro 21:4; Mat 6:23).
Application:
As bible teachers and ambassadors of God, we ought to work for the honor of God, not our own reputation or image. We ought to be conscious of God’s honor and of what he thinks, rather than fearing others or trying to show off.
Love seeks not its own glory (1Co 13:5) but is consumed with God's glory. We ought to strive to be captured by all-consuming love to God and be emptied of sinful craving for praise, acclaim and approval.
4. Read verses 19-24.
ANSWER:
Jn 7:19-24 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?" 20 "You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered. "Who is trying to kill you?" 21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all astonished. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
What was the Jew’s problem? (19)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?"
They did not keep the law; they did not choose to do God’s will (17).
Jesus accused his opponents, who claimed to be champions of the Law, of failing to keep it. They did not live for the praise and glory of God or have the love and adoration of God in their hearts which is the essence of the Law (Jn 5:42,44; Mat 15:8; Luk 18:11; Deut 6:6). Rather, they cared about what men can see -- the outside, not their heart (Mat 23:5-7, 25, 27; Luk 20:47).
In actuality, their failure to keep the law was not their fundamental problem. Jesus had diagnosed their problem in Jn 5:40 saying that they did not have life -- they were stone dead spiritually. The law does not in itself impart life (Gal 3:21; Ro 4:15). Rather, it is the means through which man can recognize of his need of life from the Messiah. Thus, their failure to keep the law was the cause of their problem of spiritual deadness insofar as they did not recognize from sincerely trying to keep the law that they were in need of a Messiah to have life. And their failure to keep the law was also the symptom of their problem: They were not alive to God and therefore had no desire and will to keep his law. Rather, they wanted to kill Jesus who revealed the light of truth about their sin to them. 1 ½ years had passed since his rebuke in chapter 5 and amazingly they had become worse, not better, with the passage of time.
What was the one miracle Jesus did that astonished them? (21, Jn 5:8-10)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all astonished.
Jn 5:8-10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."
Because Jesus had healed the invalid man at the pool on the Sabbath 1 ½ years ago, the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him (Jn 5:16).
The Jewish pilgrims who came from outside Jerusalem didn’t know about this plot (25). So they thought he was a paranoid lunatic for saying, "Why are you trying to kill me?"
Why was it truly lawful that Jesus healed on the Sabbath? (22-23)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:22-23 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?
Because the law which commands men to rest on the Sabbath day is subordinate to the law of mercy and love (Mat 12:11-12).
Circumcision on the eighth day was initiated by Abraham (Gen 17:9-14) and explicitly commanded in the Law of Moses (Lev 12:3). Because circumcision had to be performed on the eighth day after birth, the Jews permitted it to be performed even on the Sabbath.
Jesus argued that, if was was permissible to do a lesser work (by cutting away the flesh in circumcision for the sake of a law that has only external, ceremonial significance) on the Sabbath, surely it was permissible to do a work of greater importance and mercy that brings wholeness.
How can we make a right judgment? (24)
ANSWER:
Jn 7:24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
We can make a right judgment by:
By judging according to the person’s intent rather than simply by their outward action (by mere appearances).
By judging according to the spirit and design of the law rather than by the letter.
By judging according to the light of understanding from God. We should get the plank out of our eyes first so that we might see clearly (Mat 7:5). This begins by repenting of hypocrisy and resolutely choosing to do God's will (17). As God shows us of our powerlessness in sin and of his grace and power to deliver us and heal us and shows us of the riches of his patience and tolerance, we can begin to show the same love to others (Jn 13:34b; 1Jn 4:19; Mat 18:33; 1Co 15:10).
Jesus calls for us to “make a right judgment”. In this postmodern age, Jesus' words, “Do not judge” (Mat 7:1) are popular but wrongly interpreted as meaning that we are prohibited from making any moral judgments and from calling sin as sin. But what he really prohibits is rash, unkind judgments, a fault-finding spirit, and a disposition to condemn.
Jesus helped the Jews here to identify their symptoms of their spiritual deadness that they might become sensitized to their pitiful state and of their need of life from him. Dead people cannot see or hear or feel or understand and Jesus shows that the Jews were thusly dead in spirit (Deu 29:4).
He shows that their hearts were stone cold, unmerciful, condemning and critical. They used the law to serve their crooked, selfish aims and desires to condemn others and establish and sustain their supremacy and authority. Jesus proves that they did not understand from the law that God is love and desired mercy and that mercy and faithfulness were enshrined in the law above legalistic observance (Hos 6:6; Mat 23:23, 1:19).
He shows how they did not know God and that their reasoning was foolish without spiritual light (Ro 1:21; Mat 23:17). They could not use the Law properly to make a right judgment even though they so diligently studied and memorized it (Mat 22:29; Mat 12:7). In darkness, they could not accurately evaluate Jesus' actions or his teaching and person.
The love and grace of our Lord Jesus was revealed by his healing of the invalid. His love and grace was revealed even more as he risked his life to proclaim the words of truth and life in the temple courts to those who desired only to kill him. Jesus could well have been angry with them as he was in Mk 3:5 because of their stubbornness. He displayed the riches of kindness to carefully explain the truth but the Jews could not recognize it.
Application:
If we are darkened by unrepentance, the faculty of our reason does not operate correctly and we cannot properly evaluate God's truth or God's Son or God's love or God's people. When we're thusly darkened, we are in danger of misinterpreting God's love for us through his people and their efforts to restore us into the light as intrusive, controlling, abusive or evil.
Concluding remark:
Jesus’ labor of love and his risk of his life to preach on this occassion were not in vain and we see later that his words stirred life in the stone hearts of his listeners (31, 40-41, 43).
This calculation assumes that the feast mentioned in Jn 5:1 was a Passover. From Jn 5:1 to Jn 6:4 is one year and from Jn 6:4 to Jn 7:2 is six months. This gives a total of 1.5 years.
Mat 13:55 and Mk 6:3 list the names of his half-brothers: James, Joseph, Simon and Judas.
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to James (1Co 15:7). James is the prominent elder of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13, 19; 21:17-25; Gal 2:12) and the author of the Epistle of James. James was martyred in 62 AD according to Josephus (AJ 20.9.1) during the power vacuum that followed immediately after the death of Festus the procurator of Judea. Judas is believed to have written the Epistle of Jude.
Since eyewitness testimony is counted as evidence in a court of law (Deu 19:15), their skepticism is excusable only if they had merely heard rumors about the miracles he had performed (Pro 14:15). Also note: Expositors are divided about whether the half-brothers skepticism was directed even toward Jesus' miracles. Carson writes, “We ought not to think the brothers’ scepticism extended to doubt that he could perform dazzling miracles, otherwise their challenge that he should perform his works of power in Jerusalem would be incoherent.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, Pg 307). “The εἰ ["if Thou doest these things"] is not intended to throw doubt on the works; it denotes the logical premise” (Johann Peter Lange, A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Numbers, Pg 240) John Gill writes, “they question whether the miracles he wrought were real; and suspected that they were deceptions of the sight, and delusions; or at least they questioned their being done by him; and rather thought that they were done by diabolical influence, by Beelzebub the prince of devils: but if they were real ones, they advise him, saying...” (John Gill, John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, commentary on John 7:4) Albert Barnes writes, “Besides, there is no evidence that these relatives had been present at any of his miracles, and all that they knew of them might have been from report” (Albert Barnes, Barnes' New Testament notes, commentary on John 7:4).
The NIV text note on the word “yet” in verse 8 reads, “Some early manuscripts do not have yet”. Carson writes, “The early textual witnesses are divided between I am not yet (oupõ) going up to this Feast (NIV), and ‘I am not (ouk) going up to the Feast’. The word oupõ may have been an early scribal ‘correction’ to remove the obvious difficulty that arises in v. 10: Jesus does go up. But even if the reading ouk (‘not’) is correct, the difficulty is superficial because the context supplies a condition. Jesus’ response to his brothers is not that he is planning to stay in Galilee forever, but that because his life is regulated by his heavenly Father’s appointments he is not going to the Feast when they say he should. The ‘counsel of the wicked’ (Ps. 1:1) cannot be permitted to set his agenda. His ‘not’ turns down his brothers’ request; it does not promise he will not go to the Feast when the Father sanctions the trip.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, Pg 309).
The word “time” used by Jesus here is καιρός kairos (kai-ros') (G2540) which means, “1. a set or proper time or season; 2. an occasion”* appears three times in this gospel (5:4, 7:6, 7:8). Two other words for time used in this gospel are hora and chronos. The word ὥρα hora (ho'-rah) (G5610) means “hour”* and it appears 24 times (1:39, 2:4, 4:6, 21, 23, 52, 53, 5:25, 28, 35, 7:30, 8:20, 11:9, 12:23, 27, 13:1, 16:2, 4, 21, 25, 32, 17:1, 19:14, 19:27). The word χρόνος chronos (khron'-os) (G5550) means “a space of time (in general) or interval”* and it appears four times in this gospel (5:6, 7:33, 12:35, 14:9). Interestingly, the words kairos and hora are used in reference to Jesus’ time of crucifixion but not chronos. Also, hora when preceded by a number (as in the “tenth hour”) does not, of course, refer to his crucifixion.
*(Jonathan Kristen Mickelson, Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries)
See Mk 1:45. Jesus did not want to excite premature opposition and jealousy from his enemies by having the news of his miracles and identity be broadcast publicly (see Mk 1:34, Mat 16:20, 17:9, 9:30, 8:4). Another problem was that people had a wrong idea about the Christ as a political king (Jn 6:15).
“The fact that pilgrim caravans also came to the festivals from the Diaspora is borne out by the evidence compiled on pp. 62ff., by Josephus and also by Philo: ‘Countless multitudes from countless cities come, some over land, others over sea, from east and west and north and south, at every feast’ (Philo, De spec. leg. I, 69).” (Joachim Jeremias, Jerusalem in the time of Jesus: an investigation into economic and social ..., Pg 76)
“Caravans provided some safely for journeys in the Holy Land, since hands of robbers frequently attacked travelers (10:30). A caravan would be a noisy, busy group. If later custom was followed, the women and younger children were positioned at the front of the caravan, followed by the men and older boys.” (Daniel Lioy, International Lesson Commentary KJV with NRSV Comparison: September 2007 ..., Pg 153)
Luk 2:46-47 records that Jesus did receive some instruction before his Bar Mitzvah. Yet, even in that account, Jesus seemed to be teaching his teachers: They were “amazed at his understanding and his answers”.
Our choosing is directly attributable to his choosing; behind our choosing to do his will in response to his word is the choosing of God to powerfully draw us to his Son, (Jn 1:13; 6:44; 5:25, 21; 10:29; 15:16; 17:2,6; Php 2:13; 3:12b; Acts 3:26; 1Jn 4:19; Jas 1:18; Ro 8:33; 1Th 1:4-5, etc.).
The word “chooses” in verse 17 is translated differently in other Bible versions:
The KJV reads, “If any man will do his will, he shall know...”
The NAS reads, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know...”
The NET reads, “If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know...”
The AMP reads, “If any man desires to do His will (God's pleasure), he will know...”
The Greek word from which “chooses” is translated is G2309 θέλω thelo (thel'-o) which means: “1. to determine, i.e. choose or prefer; 2. (by implication) to wish, i.e. be inclined to” (Jonathan Kristen Mickelson, Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries)
What is God’s will as revealed in Moses’ Law? His will is that we should know his perfect holiness and obey his holy, perfect commands (Mat 5:48; Lev 19:2). He commands that we should love and worship and serve the Lord with our ALL our being and love his people (Deu 6:5; Lev 19:18; Mat 22:36-40). His will is that we should come to our senses and admit that we are prisoners of sin, unable to live according to his perfect standard (Gal 3:22a; Ro 3:20; Gal 3:10; 2:21, 19). His will is for us to have a profound sense of our wretchedness in his holy presence (Jn 1:27; Isa 6:5; Luk 18:13; Isa 64:6) – a sense that our sin is truly wicked and that we deserve only of his wrath (Mat 5:22, 29; Jn 8:5; Mat 18:24-25). His will is to lead us to eat and drink of his saving sacrifice and of his love in providing the promised Messiah (Gal 3:24; Jn 8:3) and to embrace his deliverance from sin’s penalty and power that our heart may be his exclusive possession and throne, empowered to live in the new way of love for him by the Spirit all our days (Ro 7:6; Deu 30:6; Eze 36:26-27; Jer 31:33).
This is not to say that Christianity has no basis in rationality or that saving faith in Jesus cannot be arrived at through the faculty of reason by the evaluation of evidence (Jn 7:31, 10:37-38; Acts 17:2,17; 18:4; 19:26; 28:24; 2Co 5:11). But if anyone reasons aright with regards to the evidence for Jesus and comes to Jesus, it is the work of God (Jn 3:21). Saving faith is born in the heart from above by the work of the Spirit, not from man (Jn 6:29, 37, 44, 65; Heb 12:2; Php 1:29; Act 13:48; Ro 12:3b; 2Pe 1:1; Mat 11:27; 16:17; 2Th 2:13-14; Eph 2:8, etc.). And besides, the unshakable, rock-solid foundation of our faith is not reason or evidence but the inward revelation of the truth of Jesus through his word (1Jn 5:9-11; 1Pe 1:23).
Jesus accepted the fact that Moses transmitted the Law to Israel and acknowledged the authority of that Law.
If Jesus was teaching in public in the temple courts, why couldn't the authorities simply seize him and kill him? Because his Father was shielding him (30) and because they were afraid of the crowds who favored him (Mat 21:46).
The Rabbis reasoned the same way: "Cf. the saying of R. El'azar b'Azariah (c. 100): “If circumcision, which affects one of the 248 members of a man, supersedes the Sabbath, how much more must his whole body (when in mortal danger) supersede the Sabbath.” bYoma, 85b. cf. Str.-B., II. 488 and the Rabb. par. there.” (Gerhard Kittel, Theological dictionary of the New Testament, Vol 7, Page 28)