*John 7:1-31
Jesus travels to Judea during the Feast of Tabernacles, where some people consider him a teacher while others plot against him.
- Jesus’ Dispute with His Brothers
- Jesus’ brothers encourage him to go to Judea and display his miracles publicly.
- Jesus declines, stating it’s not yet his time, implying his awareness of divine timing.
- His brothers, lacking understanding, depart for the feast without him.
- Jesus’ Quiet Departure
- Jesus decides to go to the feast in secret, avoiding public attention and controversy.
- There is much murmuring and speculation about his absence among the people at the feast.
- Jesus Teaches at the Temple
- Midway through the feast, Jesus begins to teach openly in the temple courts.
- His teaching astonishes the crowds due to its depth and authority.
- Jesus addresses the crowd, asserting that his teachings are not his own but come from God.
- He confronts skepticism and criticism, challenging the crowd to discern the truth of his message.
- Jesus performs miracles, stirring debate among the people regarding his identity as the Messiah.
- Division Among the Crowd
- Some among the crowd express belief in Jesus as the Christ, while others doubt, citing Galilea as his birthplace.
- The Pharisees and chief priests send officers to arrest Jesus, but they are unable to do so due to his powerful presence.
- Despite differing opinions, many in the crowd acknowledge Jesus’ extraordinary teachings and wonder about his identity.
John 7:1-31 shows us that following God’s truth isn’t always easy, but it is worth it. Jesus faced doubt and opposition, yet He remained faithful to His mission. This reminds us that doing what is right may not always be popular, but we should trust God and stay true to our faith. When we seek God with an open heart, He will guide us to the truth. We can apply this by standing firm in our beliefs, seeking wisdom from God, and trusting Him even when others don’t understand our faith.
John 7:1-31 (WEB)
7:1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.6 Jesus therefore said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled.”9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret. 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he?” 12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.” 13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews. 14 But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”16 Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God or if I am speaking from myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?”20 The multitude answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?”21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill? 26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?”