John 7 - Introduction

Could This Be The Christ? John Seven

John seven is a record of Jesus attending the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a time when He taught the people. The Jewish leaders were seeking to kill Him but His message must go forth. They hated Him because He told them that they were doing evil things. At this time Jesus' own brothers did not believe in Him as the Christ. They were pushing Him to go into Judaea so his disciples could see His works. At that time some were saying, "Jesus is a good man," while others were saying, "He is lying to everyone."

The Jewish leaders were surprised at the power with which Jesus taught sense He lacked formal education. Some called Him Rabbi so they respected Him as teacher. He said, "I am not teaching something that I thought up. What I teach comes from the one who sent me. If you really want to obey God, you will know if what I teach comes from God or from me. If I wanted to bring honor to myself, I would speak for myself. But I want to honor the one who sent me." Jesus said that these seemingly religious people did not obey the law that God gave to Moses and that they sought to kill Him. Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath and they were so angry at Him that they wanted to kill Him. (John 5:1-47) Jesus showed that they understood that something good could be done on the Sabbath. They would gladly circumcise their sons on the Sabbath. Jesus told them "Do not judge by appearances. Judge by what is right." At first appearance it might seem to be a violation of the Sabbath to heal a man, yet it is right to do works of necessity and mercy. Some wanted to arrest Jesus but no one laid a hand on him because His time had not yet come.

Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." The reaction to Jesus was very mixed. Some want to arrest and kill Him. Others said, "He must be the Prophet!" Some said, "He is the Messiah." When some had been sent to arrest Jesus they returned without Him. They said, "No one has ever spoken like that man!" On that occasion Nicodemus was there and he defend Jesus. He said he must have an opportunity to speak for Himself.