11/27/16

Jesus teaches about Living Water at Festival of Tabernacles

John 7
AIM: Things are not always as they appear at first.

Characters: Brothers don't believe, Religious Leaders want to suppress Jesus, Optimistic people say he's good, pessimistic people say he deceives, yet some believe he's the Prophet other that he's the Messiah.
Appearances:
A) Wrong Timing (1-9)
B) Wrong Understanding (10-32
C) Wong Background (33-52)

A) Unbelievers partake in Festival of Tabernacles, Jesus waits
(1) After thisJesus around Galilee, not Judea Jewish leaders looked to kill him
(2-5) Unbelieving (5) brothers: Jewish Festival Tabernacles go to Judea public figures not secret, show the world

  • Tabernacle: a movable habitation, "tavern, hut, tent"
  • 3 times annually all men must appear before Lord your God at the place he will choose: Festival of Unleavened Bread, Weeks, Tabernacles. No one should appear before Lord empty-handed Deuteronomy 16:16
  • Leviticus 23 shows seven appointed festivals of the Lord or sacred assemblies are progressively leading to Festival of Tabernacles, they are; Sabbath, Passover and Unleavened Bread, Offering First-fruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. In the presents of his mother and brothers (John 2:12), Jesus had spoken of his relationship to God his Father (John 2:16) and his purpose for coming (John 2:19-22). I speculate the brothers heard Jesus declare this festival points to his work and that they will indeed see Psalm Sunday (Leviticus 23:40-41; Matthew 21:8-11; Luke 24:44-53).
Application: What traditions do I take for granted, not understanding the significance? Where am I going through the motions of religious activity with an unbelieving heart towards God?
(6-9) Jesus time not here; you anytime will do. World hates me, I testify its works are evil - you go I'll stay

  • Yet his hour had still not yet come (John 2:4;7:6). Many didn't understand the purpose of the Festivals, Jesus had already clarified that true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth and this is the kind of worshipers the Father seeks (John 4:23).
Application: What is God's will for my time?


B) Jesus teaches about understanding God's will and the law
(10-13) Jesus went after his brothers left in secret, Jewish leaders watch for him crowds, "good man" others replied "deceiver" silent in public

  • To say Good Man or deceiver, both attitudes are wrong yet still prevalent in our society. He is God's son, the Holy One of God (Christ, Messiah). One thing that is still true is people don't feel comfortable saying anything publicly about Jesus for fear of leaders at work, in government and the home.
Application: Who do you say that Jesus is?
(14-15) Jesus 1/2 through festival teaches at temple courts amazing everyone by his learning without being taught
(16-19) Jesus "Teaching from God, anyone chooses God's will finds I speak for God's glory in truth,
Application: How does one choose to do God's will? Repent from the pattern of this world, be transformed, renewed in mind having given your life to God (Rom 12:1-2). Chip Ingram has a whole course on becoming a Romans 12 Christian that is excellent.http://truespiritualityonline.org/r12
(19-20) Moses law, no one keeps, why try kill me?" Crowd, "demon-possessed, trying kill?"
(21-22) Jesus, "miracle on Sabbath amazed you, Moses/Abraham circumcision on Sabbath
(23-24) "boy circumcision so Moses law isn't broken, why be angry for healing a man's whole body, stop judging by appearances, but judge correctly

  • 1 Samuel 16:7: "...People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
  • Isaiah 53:2 regarding the Messiah, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Fulfilled in Jesus Christ "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8). Mark 12:14 Jesus was "not influenced by outward appearances or social status, but in truth You teach the way of God."
  • Matthew 16:3 "...You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."
  • 2 Corinthians 10:7-11 "Judge by what we do", not "self-imposed worship, false humility and harsh treatment of the body" (Colossians 2:23)

Principle: God cares about the heart of our actions.
Application: How do I ensure my heart is right with God?
(25-27) People Jerusalem asked "trying to kill him, but he speaks publicly, concluded Messiah? But we know where he is from/Messiah no one will know where he is from"
(28-29) Jesus teaching temple courts, you know me, but not who sent me
(30-32) tried to seize him, no one did time hadn't come, many believed "who will perform more signs than him?"

C) Jesus provides living water, people question his background
(33-34) Here short time, going to one who sent me where I am you can't come

  • much like "Lord, Lord...away from me I never knew you", "they honor with lips but hearts are far from him" (Matthew 7:21; Matthew 15:8; Isaiah 29:13)

(35-36) Confused can't find him? Greeks, what's he mean?
(37-39) Last day festival Jesus "anyone thirsty come and drink, believe in me Scripture said, rivers of living water will flow from within them" - Spirit believers would receive after resurrection of Jesus

  • Revelation 7:16-17; Isaiah 49:10; John 7:37-38; John 4:14 - "Never again will they hunger (or) thirst"... "He will lead them to springs of living water"- He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them besides springs of water. Whoever believes in Jesus as Scripture said, rivers of living water will flow from within them, like a spring welling up to eternal life.

(40-43) Surely the Prophet, or Messiah but Galilee? Scriptures say Messiah from Bethlehem - divided
(44-46) Chief priests wanted to seize, didn't lay hand, guards confess "no one like him"
(47-49) Pharisees "he deceived you?" has any rulers believed?, no mob knows nothing, cursed
(50-52) Nicodemus, "law condemn man before hearing, find out what doing, "Galilee too - prophet not out of Galilee"
Application: Where do I jump to accusations about people sent from God into my life?

Palm Sunday
Judging on Appearances