JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:2 The FEAST OF BOOTHS (or Feast of Tabernacles) was celebrated in September/October. It is so named because people lived in outdoor shelters to remember God’s faithfulness to Israel during the wilderness years (Leviticus 23:42; compare Matthew 17:4 and parallels). It was also a t... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:3 Jesus’ BROTHERS (compare Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3) are other naturally born sons of Mary. Their advice reveals their misunderstanding of Jesus’ messianic identity. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:5 NOT EVEN HIS BROTHERS BELIEVED IN HIM. Even those who had lived in the same house with Jesus for nearly 30 years did not know who he was. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:6 MY TIME in John 1:1 probably refers to the cross (see note on 2:4). YOUR TIME means “your time to go up to the feast with the crowds who are going to Jerusalem.” In both cases, “time” means the time that is suitable or right. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("i... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:7 The world CANNOT HATE Jesus’ brothers because they did not yet believe in Jesus; they still belonged to the world. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:8 I AM NOT GOING UP TO THIS FEAST is not a mistake by John or a lie by Jesus, even though Jesus did go up to the feast (v. John 7:10). The Greek present tense can have the sense, “I am not now going,” indicating that Jesus did not go to the feast at the time or in the way the bro... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:14 TEMPLE here means the area surrounding the temple itself, including the Court of the Gentiles. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:15 HE HAS NEVER STUDIED. Jesus lacked formal rabbinic training (as did his disciples, Acts 4:13). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:20 Compare John 8:48; John 10:20; Matthew 12:24 and parallels. The same charge was made against John the Baptist (Matthew 11:18). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document. [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:21 This ONE WORK is probably the healing in John 5:1. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:22 This recalls Genesis 17:9 (THE FATHERS, that is, Abraham) and Leviticus 12:3 (MOSES). Jesus’ argument is “from the lesser to the greater.” The Jews circumcised their males on the eighth day even if that day fell on the Sabbath (the “lesser” issue). If “perfecting” one part of... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:26 THE AUTHORITIES probably refers to the Sanhedrin (compare John 12:42). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:27 BUT WE KNOW. Some rabbis taught that the Messiah would be completely unknown until he began to save Israel. Others, however, were sure that Bethlehem would be his birthplace (v. John 7:42; see Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:28 TEMPLE. See note on 2:14. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:30 BECAUSE HIS HOUR HAD NOT YET COME. In John, Jesus’ “hour” is the time of his crucifixion, when his saving work is completed (see John 8:20; John 12:23, John 12:27; John 13:1; John 17:1). ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:32 The CHIEF PRIESTS AND PHARISEES, representing the Sanhedrin, sent OFFICERS (or temple police) to arrest Jesus. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:35 People misunderstand Jesus’ statement in v. John 7:34 (see also John 3:4; John 4:15; John 6:52). THE DISPERSION was a common Jewish expression for the Jewish people scattered throughout the world. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:37 Jesus’ invitation refers back to OT prophetic passages such as Isaiah 55:1 (see also Isaiah 12:3). THIRSTS. That is, “thirsts” for God (see note on John 4:14). To COME to Jesus AND DRINK means to believe in him, to enter into a trusting, ongoing personal relationship with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:38 There is no specific SCRIPTURE passage from the OT that matches Jesus’ words here. He summarizes several passages that picture God’s work in believers as a river of water flowing out to bless others (see Isaiah 58:11). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img");... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:39 AS YET THE SPIRIT HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN does not mean that there was no work of the Holy Spirit in the world prior to Jesus’ resurrection (see Genesis 1:2; Exodus 31:3; Numbers 11:25; Deuteronomy 34:9; Ezekiel 2:2). Rather, it means the Spirit had not been given in the full and p... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:40 IS THE CHRIST TO COME FROM GALILEE?... HAS NOT THE SCRIPTURE SAID THAT THE CHRIST COMES... FROM BETHLEHEM? Bethlehem is clearly predicted as the Messiah’s birthplace (Micah 5:2). Ironically, the people here did not realize that Bethlehem was in fact Jesus’ birthplace. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ v... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:45 OFFICERS. Temple police. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:50 NICODEMUS. See John 3:1. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 7:52 Some prophets did come FROM GALILEE, such as Jonah (2 Kings 14:25), and possibly Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) and Nahum (Nahum 1:1). The Pharisees may have been reflecting current bias against Galileans, or perhaps they were misrepresenting the facts to make their case against Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]