Gospel of St. John
The Feast of the Tabernacles – 07:1-13
Many of Christ’s disciples have left him. He even charged the chosen twelve directly to see if they too wanted to leave. It appears that Christ’s ministry in Galilee is over.
“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that they disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth a thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.” The “Jews” refer to the religious leaders and are not to include the common people of Judea. Note that Jesus did not carelessly expose himself to his enemies. He was careful to avoid persecution and danger until his time was come. The Feast of tabernacles (also called the feast of booths) commemorates the exodus from Egypt and is one of three feasts for which all Jews were to come to the Temple for worship. The people build booths, also called tabernacles, in which they eat and sleep during the 8 day event. A great crowd would be present. Jesus’ brethren, his kinsmen, encouraged Him to forget his failure in Galilee and show a great multitude His miracles. They did not understand his deity but they knew they stood to benefit from a greater following in the capital.
“Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet fully come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.” Jesus told his brethren that it was not time for him to go to the feast. However, it was time for them to go because they were always ready for fame. If Jesus went in their midst, he could not avoid the attention of the Jewish leaders.
“But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up into the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the “Jews” sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.” Jesus did not go openly in defiance of those who would kill him. Yet, He was required by Jewish law to attend so He went privately. The Jewish leadership sought him at the feast and many diverse opinions were held of Him even in His own time. Proclaiming the truth always encounters opposition. The fault is not in the truth but in mankind’s insistence that nothing is greater than their own thoughts and desires. Christ was personally recognized in individual comments of the people but the threat of the Jewish leadership curtailed any real discussion of Christ.
Teaching in the Temple – 07:14-31
Jesus followed Jewish law by attending the feast. He followed God’s will by teaching in the Temple even though the leadership sought to kill him. We don’t know what he taught but it was enough to make the leadership marvel at the knowledge of a man lacking formal credentials.
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee.” In response to their marveling, Jesus reminds them that he is not teaching his own doctrine but that of his Father. He had not been taught by men, nor had he invented it. We would do well to judge our teachers in the same manner. A true desire to follow the Will of God will produce spiritual discernment necessary to identify the source of the teaching. Jesus reminds them that Moses gave them the law which they don’t keep. Instead they go about to kill the one who reminds them of that law. The common people did not know that the Jewish leadership desired to kill Christ and thought He was just imagining it.
“Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the Sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken, are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Jesus points out that works of necessity and works of mercy may be legitimately performed on the Sabbath. He is preaching against a mindless application of rigid rules without compassion and justice. The Jewish leadership seeks to kill him because he healed a man on the Sabbath. He is telling them to apply their judgment righteously as opposed to whatever creates the best appearance.
“Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.” The people knew that the Messiah would be born supernaturally. They did not know that Jesus was not born of Joseph naturally. They did not understand why the leadership allowed Jesus to speak so boldly. Again, they were not able to take Him because his hour had not come. In spite of the Jewish leadership, many people believed on him.
Christ in the Temple – 07:32-53
“The Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto them that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles.” This event occurred about six months before Jesus’ crucifixion. The leadership sent officers to arrest Jesus so they could handle the issue in private. Jesus assured them the irritation of his teaching would not be with them long. He also told them they would not be able to go where He went. They were astonished to think He could actually hide from them unless he went exclusively to the Gentiles.
“In the last day ... Jesus stood and cried, saying, 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 … When they heard this saying, many said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee.” The last day of the festival brings great throngs of worshippers and is a fitting place for an appeal to needy souls. Jesus gave the short version of His gospel. Any that thirst can come and receive an over abundance of living water. The belly is used in this case to indicate that portion of a man that is always craving. And yet, the cravings will be satisfied to the point of overflowing. The officers returned to the rulers without Christ and said, no man ever spoke like this before. They were impressed by his speech as opposed to a miracle.
“Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. Nicodemus saith unto them, Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.” They asked if any Pharisees had believed on Christ. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and believed. He pointed out the requirement of their law before action could be taken against Jesus. They accused him of being from Galilee and stated their belief that no prophet could arise out of Galilee. Although he was berated for his comment, Nicodemus effectively curtailed their wrath for the moment and they returned to their own homes.
Solomon’s Temple (957 BC – 586 BC)
Second Temple (515 BC – 70 AD)