John 7

It is harder for those closest to us,that know our failures, to give credence to our beliefs. We never totally know someone. The majority of Christians keep their beliefs hidden inside and rarely speak about them. We can never let the perceptions of others or even our own perceptions of ourselves to hinder us from speaking. The bottom line is that it is not about us, or our worthiness, but about Jesus and His worthiness. The very people in charge of God's temple were the very ones who sought to kill His Word. The religious right, the scribes and pharisees, out of fear of losing their power and authority over the common people, sought to kill Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Many believed Jesus but were afraid to say it publicly for fear of being thrown out of the synagogue. How sad that man was willing to deny his only real hope for fear of being kicked out of the power group. Is it any different today?

7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

6 Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come." 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?" 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good"; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people." 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?"

16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"

20 The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?"

21 Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me."

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ."

45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?"

46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!"

47 Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."

50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?"

The NKJ study Bible says this:

The Jews here means the religious authorities, not the people in general. Many common people had responded to Jesus with joy. The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three great Jewish religious festivals. The feast commemorated the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and lived in tents. The middle of the feast would have been the fourth day of the seven-day feast. During the first half of the festival Jesus remained in seclusion. During the second half He began to teach publicly. Jesus' statement indicates that He did not receive His teaching from the rabbis, nor did He fabricate it. Instead His teaching came directly from God. The test of a teacher is whether or not he delivers God's message. Jesus reminded the leaders that they knew His origin. Their problem was that they did not know God, who sent Jesus. He explained to them that He knew God, was from God, and was sent by God. God is sovereign and He alone sets the time. As with Jesus, so with us; no one can touch us without the Father's consent. In contrast to the leaders, many of the Jewish people believed because of the miracles Jesus performed. Jesus' time on earth was limited; soon He would be crucified and then ascend to the Father. His life was not determined by the Jewish religious leaders, but by the Father. There will be a river of water coming out of those who believe in Christ. Not only will they be satisfied themselves, but they will also become a river so that others may drink
and be satisfied. John explains that Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit who would satisfy personal thirst and produce a perennial fountain for the satisfaction of others. The Holy Spirit would come after Jesus' crucifixion and ascension. The Pharisees accused the people of being ignorant of the Law and thus under God's curse (see Deut. 28:15). The irony of the situation was that it was the Pharisees, not the crowds, who were under God's wrath because they had rejected His Son). Nicodemus made a plea for justice, but his plea was rejected.