Lessons from John
John 7:1-9 (NIV)1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
John 7:1-9 (The Message)
1-2 Later Jesus was going about his business in Galilee. He didn't want to travel in Judea because the Jews there were looking for a chance to kill him. It was near the time of Tabernacles, a feast observed annually by the Jews.
3-5His brothers said, "Why don't you leave here and go up to the Feast so your disciples can get a good look at the works you do? No one who intends to be publicly known does everything behind the scenes. If you're serious about what you are doing, come out in the open and show the world." His brothers were pushing him like this because they didn't believe in him either.
6-8Jesus came back at them, "Don't crowd me. This isn't my time. It's your time—it's always your time; you have nothing to lose. The world has nothing against you, but it's up in arms against me. It's against me because I expose the evil behind its pretensions. You go ahead, go up to the Feast. Don't wait for me. I'm not ready. It's not the right time for me."
9He said this and stayed on in Galilee.
Jesus was on a mission and no one and nothing could deter him from accomplishing it. He knew what He came to do and was actively doing it. It was not important that everyone understand what he was up to, but rather that they put their faith in what God was doing through Him.
In the previous chapters in the book of John, Jesus desires for his followers to see with eyes of faith. In John 6:33 & 51, “Jesus identifies himself as his flesh as the true bread of life that must be given for the life of the world.” (DA Carson, The Gospel according to John, p.268) In the Old Testament, God provided manna for the Israelites, but Jesus not only fed the crowds with bread and fish, He told them that he is the Bread of Life. If they eat of him they will never be hungry again! Just like the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), Jesus is asking the people to have eyes of faith.
Let’s look at several observations from this text in John 7:
V 2: The Feast of Tabernacles: The holiday on the Jewish calendar that celebrated the end of the of the harvest and remembered how God took care of the Israelites who roamed in the desert. (Leviticus 23:33-43; Deut. 16:13-15)
· The Israelites were vigilant in celebrating and remembering what God had done for them.
· How and when do we celebrate what God has done for us?
· Paul challenges believers in Philippians 4:4 to, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” We can celebrate God everyday, not just on sacred holidays.
Vv 3-5: These verses are referring to the actual brothers of Jesus, the ones he was raised with. Some scholars say they had knowledge of miracles that Jesus did that no one else was aware of because of their relationship to him. Even if they saw him perform miracles that others did not know about, John points out that they still did not fully believe in Who he was.
· Seeing is not always believing
· Are there times when it is difficult to believe? (Why or why not?)
V 6: God’s timing was what Jesus was following not the timing suggested by others. “Jesus moved in accordance with the will of God.” (NIV Study Bible notes)
· Is it difficult to wait for God’s timing? (Why or why not?)
· Describe the last time you waited for God’s timing, what were the circumstances and what happened as a result of waiting?
V 7: Jesus’ brothers belonged to the world and could not be hated in the way Jesus was because he did not belong to the world. John is pointing out here that the brothers are still “in the dark” about who Jesus is and therefore do not know the ways in which he works.
· They thought they knew what was best for him. Peter also thought he knew best when he told Jesus he would not allow him to die (Mark 8:33) but Jesus rebuked him.
· How have you learned to trust in Christ’s plan for your life?
V 8: Jesus did not refuse to go to the Feast of Tabernacles, but he did refuse to display himself the way his brothers advised.
· Jesus was not impatient. He knew that waiting for the right time was part of His mission. He did not attempt to hurry things up.
· Who likes to wait? J Most likely none of us, but what usually happens when we hurry too much? Often something gets overlooked and it ends up taking longer than originally planned.
· What can we do while we are waiting?
Lesson written by Kelly Preston, 2011.
Sources consulted:
NIV Study Bible, 10th Anniversary Edition, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1995.
The Message Bible Remix/Eugene Peterson, NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO, 2003.
M.H. Commentary, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1992.
D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI, 1991.
N.T. Wright, John for Everyone, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
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