The Will of God

John 7 Part 2

John 7:10-18 (NIV)

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” 12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. 14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

Let’s take a closer look at this text:

V 10: Jesus ended up going to the Feast of Tabernacles but not in the way his brothers suggested (John 7:4) Jesus remained behind the scenes at first.

Vv 12-13: “Whispering” is the key word here – nobody was safe to openly talk about Jesus because he was a controversial person in the Jewish community. Some of the religious leaders accused him of being a false prophet – this was due to the fact that He healed a paralytic on the Sabbath and asked him to “get up and carry his own mat.” (John 5) To the religious leaders, this was a breech of the Sabbath law.

V 14: At just the right time, Jesus made himself known to the crowds. It was the middle of the festival and the crowds were at their peak. Many would have the opportunity to hear his teachings. Jesus’ timing is perfect!

V 15: Jesus was never a student under a recognized Jewish teacher. He amazed the crowds both commoners and leaders because of the authority with which he spoke. The people could not believe that he was not “formerly” educated in one of the rabbinical schools.

·       We see a similar reaction when Peter and John address the crowds (Acts 4). “They confounded the religious authorities because they were ‘unschooled, ordinary men’ but they had been with Jesus and apparently drew their knowledge and authority from that exposure.” (DA Carson, The Gospel According to John, p. 311)

·       Even though we are living hundreds of years after the time that Christ was here on earth, we have His Word with us. The more we are exposed to His Word and the more time we spend in His presence, the more our speech and life style will reflect Who he is.

V 16: God the Father was his “Rabbi.” Again we see that Jesus came for the purpose of fulfilling God’s work here on earth. (John 4:34) He was not operating on his own, but in direct alignment with the will of the Father.

Vv 17-18: Jesus was not seeking his own glory but glory for God the Father. He is focused and intentional about his mission to complete the work of God for humanity. If someone embraces God, then he or she must receive the words of Christ also. Not unlike today, the people then were not willing to hear everything God wanted to speak to them about. They were “selective” listeners.

·       There are times when I want to cover my ears during a sermon or skim over a convicting passage of scripture because it is simply not what I want to hear. However, Jesus words here are a reminder that as believers, it is imperative to embrace the whole message and when we do, we will be able to discern the wonderful will of God.

Wrap up:
Jesus was actively engaged in doing the will of God. “He was totally committed to working for the honor of the One who sent him.” (DA Carson) Psalm 40:8 says, “I desire to do your will. O my God; your law is within my heart.” When we desire to do God’s will, we will not miss it! We will hear His Words of truth and feel the promptings of His Holy Spirit. We will have peace to rest on His Word and on Who he is. We will also have faith to take risks. Jesus has so much in store for us. He asks us to believe in Him and follow Him so we can be a part of the work of the Kingdom here on earth and in eternity! His rewards are incomparable and His grace is unbelievable!

Lesson written by Kelly Preston, 2011.

Sources consulted:

NIV Study Bible, 10^th 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.