John Chapter 7
The Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Booths was occurring in Judea. Jesus knew that if He were to walk with the procession of people making their way to the festivities that He would be arrested. He knew, without even being there, that men were looking for Him to kill Him and it was not yet the appointed time of the Father. Jesus did plan to be there during the festival, but He would enter the scene privately rather than out in open public.
The Feast of Booths was a weeklong celebration where people constructed booths (shelters) made of branches and leaves. The people would camp in these booths as a way of commemorating their ancestors who lived in temporary shelters in the wilderness after leaving Egypt and before entering the promised land. The celebration is to remember God’s faithfulness to Israel during that time.
Let's Reflect
1. Jesus’ own brothers (half-brothers) tried to argue with Jesus about His not wanting to go with them to the festival. They told Him that He was missing a big opportunity to show Himself as the Messiah to the world. This was probably said with a tone of sarcasm or at least they were thinking in that way. What does John say about the brothers of Jesus?
2. Jesus said that the world did not hate His half-brothers but they hated Him. Why does the world hate Jesus?
3. When Jesus told them He wasn’t going up to the festivities, He meant that He wasn’t going just yet. He planned to be there because He wanted to speak to the people, it was just that He would have to be careful not to walk right into a trap. Where did Jesus speak to the people during the festival?
4. The Jewish religious leaders were openly looking for Jesus, probably asking people if they had seen Him. This caused the people to start discussions about Jesus. What were they saying about Him?
5. According to verse 14 when did Jesus go to the festival?
6. The people were amazed at the teaching of Jesus and questioned His authority since He did not have the credentials of other religious teachers. Jesus told the people that He spoke on the authority of His Father. In verse 19 He reminded them that they had the law of Moses and yet they sought to kill Him. What commandment of the Ten Commandments would they be breaking?
7. The people were confused. They did not understand why someone whose life was in danger, would speak out so openly in front of the authorities. The authorities were not doing anything to stop His speaking, so the people thought that maybe they too were thinking He really was the Messiah. They were also confused because they were told that they do not know (the place) where the Messiah comes from and yet they knew that Jesus came from Nazareth (or Galilee). Jesus explained His true origin and the result was what? See verse 31.
8. On the last day of the Feast of Booths (held in September or October) Jesus stood up and offered the gospel message to the crowd. What was the living water that they would receive if they believed?
9. Not all believed. Some thought He was an imposter because they knew that in the scriptures the Christ would come from what small town? (This point has always baffled me – because the Pharisees knew the scriptures very well, so how did they miss this important fact? Jesus was born in Bethlehem!)
10. The officers that had been sent by the Pharisees to arrest Jesus in the temple, failed at their mission. What reason did they give for their failure?
Devotionals
