JOHN 7
JESUS AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES-
JOHN 7:1-13
7:1: THIS SECTION (7:1-10:21): Tells of our Lord's visit to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (v. 2); the entire section covers eight days: This festival was held during the last year of His earthly life, Jesus taught in the Temple and attracted a great deal of public attention: Some thought He was mad (v. 20); others believed Him to be the Messiah (vv. 31, 40); and still others (such as the Sadducees and the Pharisees) considered Him to be a threat (vv. 32, 45-52): THE JEWS WHO SOUGHT TO KILL HIM (v. 1) Are religious leaders and not the people in general!!!
7:2: THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES (Hebrew- "succoth"): Is an eight-day autumn harvest festival commemorating the time when Israel wandered in the wilderness of Sinai and the people lived in tents, or tabernacles: Along with Passover and Pentecost, this was one of the three most important festivals of the ancient Jews; this also included numerous sacrifices and celebrations (Lv 23:33-43): In later times, the final day of this feast included drawing water from the pool of Siloam so it could be mixed with wine and poured at the foot of the altar, both as a purification and in remembrance of the water flowing from the rock that Moses struck (Exodus 17:1-7): It further includes the lighting of the great lamps in the outer court of the temple- (see my notes for vv. 37-39; John 8:12; see also 2 Mc 10:5-9):
7:3: BROTHERS: See my Matthew 12:46-50-Notes:
7:10: NOT OPENLY: means not with a grand, public entrance as on Palm Sunday (John 12:12-16):
JESUS TEACHES AT THE FEAST-
JOHN 7:14-36
7:17: THE SIMPLE DESIRE: To know and follow God's will is the key to understanding it: Spiritual blindness comes from an unwillingness to KNOW God or to recognize His authority: St. John Chrysostom paraphrases Christ in this way: "Rid yourselves of wickedness: the anger, the envy, and the hatred which have arisen in your hearts, without provocation, against Me: Then you will have no difficulty in realizing that My Words are actually those of God: As it is, these passions darken your understanding and distort sound judgement: If you remove these passions, you will no longer be afflicted in this way..."
7:23: THE SABBATH: See my notes- at my Matthew 12:46-50
7:27: WE KNOW WHERE THIS MAN IS FROM: The crowds are mistaken, both in an earthly way and also in a divine way or sense!!! Humanity as a whole, they think Jesus as being from Nazareth of Galilee; they are not aware of the fact that He was actually born in Bethlehem- (v. 42; see Luke 2:1-7): Beyond this, they can't comprehend that He has come from the Father in Heaven, eternally begotten before all ages, and His divine "ORIGIN" remains unknow to them as well!!!
7:30: HIS HOUR: is the time of His suffering and death: Christ is the Lord over all of time, an authority possessed by God alone: He comes to His Cross of His own free and His time, and not according to the plots of men- (see John 8:20; and John 10:39):
7:33-34: THIS STATEMENT: is referring to the Lord's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension into Heaven:
7:35: AMONG THE GREEKS: means among the Gentiles: This unwitting prophecy points to the time after His Ascension when Christ's name will be preached and taught among the Gentiles by the apostles!!!
THE PROMISE OF PENTECOST-
JOHN 7:37-39
7:37-39: THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST: was the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles: The ceremony of the drawing of the water (see my notes for v. 2) provides the context for the Lord's words, "IF ANYONE THIRSTS, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK..." THE LIVING WATER (v. 38) is the gift of the Holy Spirit (v. 39) and the new life that accompanies this gift!!!
REACTION TO JESUS' TEACHING
JOHN 7:40-53
7:40: THE PROPHET: refers to the expected Messiah, the One Moses foretold would come (Dt 18:15-19):
7:41-43: BETHLEHEM WAS THE TOWN: from which THE CHRIST was expected to come (Mic 5:2; see my notes on v. 27):
7:45-49: THE CHIEF PRIESTS HAD SENT OFFICERS: of the temple to arrest Jesus in the middle of the Feast (v. 32): by the time the last day had arrived (v. 37), no arrest had been made, because these officers had been converted by the Lord's teaching: THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES who had "witnessed the miracles and read the Scriptures derived no benefit" from either: These officers, on the other hand, even though they could claim none of this learning, were "captivated by a single sermon..." When the mind is open, "there is no need for long speeches: Truth is like that" -(JohnChr):
7:50-52: NICODEMUS: had spoken with JESUS (John 3:1-21) and had increased in faith (see my notes for John 3:1-2): yet his defense of Christ was still based on OUR LAW and was not yet a public profession of faith (see- John 19:38-39): according to the law, Jesus must be given a hearing before He can be judged (Exodus 23:1; Dt 1:15-17):
7:53-8:11: THIS STORY OF THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY: is not found in several ancient manuscripts, nor is it covered in the commentaries of St. john Chrysostom and certain other early saints: However, it is still sealed by the Church as inspired, authentic, canonical Scripture, and it bears the same authority as all other Scripture: It is read on one of the two days when St. Mary of Egypt, a reformed prostitute, is commemorated: READING JOHN 8:1-11: JESUS RESTORES THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN:
ENDING WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER- "PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL SHABBAT SHALOM"
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST PLEASE BE STOCKING UP ON ITEMS SUCH AS CANNED FOODS, BAKING ITEMS AND OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS YOU MAY NEED-JUST IN CASE!!!
"Thank you Lord for giving the world the gift of eternal life especially for all those who chose to receive Your gift that was given by the Grace Your Father!!! And we give thanks to Your Father and His All Holy Good and Life Creating Spirit Who is without Beginning!!! You are truly the Way and the Maker of things and possibilities, Your the Promise Keeper, Our Light in the Darkness, and that's is actually Who Jesus is our Lord and Savior!!! Time is now and it's time to chose wisely for He is Coming Back, and where do you stand today, because it's better at the eleventh hour than never at all!!!
JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK
NEVER HOLD BACK
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
JEHOVAH SHALOM!!!