Jesus Teaching at the Temple
John 7:1-24
Introduction
- The gospel of John screams of the faith that we should have in Christ
-- It is the clearest example of living life FOR the one who redeemed you and I
- Today we will see two different stories played out before us:
-- The first deals with Jesus’ family (half-brothers specifically) and what they think
-- The second is specific regarding the message (teaching) of the Messiah
- Both of these can be difficult to digest, so hang on and we will walk through it
- Read John 7:1-24 / Pray
∆ Point 1 – The Feast of the Tabernacles
- This feast began on the 15th day, seventh month, following Yom Kippur
-- Since the Passover was discussed in John 6:4, it’s likely this is 6 mo. later
-- The feast is extremely important in Jewish culture; Re: rituals were critical
-- Represents the Israelites commanded to conduct a pilgrimage to the Temple
- But, notice that many want to go to the feast but Jesus did not
-- Public outcry and perception of who Jesus is would’ve been in full swing now
-- Many already want Him dead, but still others wanted what He offered
- John wastes no time in ensuring we know that the rebellion is underway
-- In v1 we see that the Jewish leaders clearly want to kill Him
-- Re: He represents a change to their system and the things they hold dear
- Jesus’s younger half-brothers, still not believing who He is, goaded Him to go
-- They were literally tempting him in v3 … go and let them see who you are
-- Additionally, they are tempting (v4) Him with public praise to be had
-- They don’t really believe He is the messiah, and it shows in their words (v5)
- However, their intentions were not for sharing the salvation He offers
-- He would’ve known this which is why Jesus challenges their response
-- The primary issue is the time for things to be done; Re: God will not be rushed
- What Jesus is referencing is that it’s already decided when He will g0
-- True, He has already been showing others He is the Messiah; the Christ
-- But at this time, at this place, it is not time for Him to attend publically
- Re: Jesus has been speaking and condemning the world since His first day
-- He has already challenged everything that society holds dear to its heart
-- IMP: Jesus is STILL challenging society which is why so many reject Him
-- It is also why so many in the church today STILL reject what He says
- Jesus says, you boys go on – it is not my time to attend (v8)
-- This certainly would’ve shut down their challenge to Him to go
-- APP: They wanted Him to go put on a show … and He was not buying it
-- However, we see in v10 that Jesus does go – just not publically like they wanted
- Does this mean that Jesus was in fear for His life? Absolutely not!
-- What it means is that He knew it was not time for Him to be present
-- He went to see what the reaction was … to what they said about Him
- IMP: This was not a popularity contest for Jesus
-- Nor was He trolling the crowd looking for pats on the back for his ego
-- His timing to attend this feast was to see what their hearts held
- And … on cue … we see that the Jewish leaders are waiting for Him (v11)
-- They want Him to show up, so that they might once again try to test Him
- Jesus already knew that this was the scene He would be walking into
-- APP: God always knows your intentions before you start talking …
- So notice what’s happening in the crowd: they are talking in secret (v12)
-- That word whispering indicates that they are not publically commenting
-- They knew that Jesus was a threat to the establishment; to the way of life
-- And if they were on His side (talking about Him) … they are a threat too (v13)
- APP: It’s the same reason no one spoke up at His trial, or at the cross
-- Fear is a powerful weapon, and the Jewish leaders wielded it without mercy
- TRANS: So we have this very important feast going on
-- And Jesus attends it but in secret to see what’s really happening
-- It amazes me that people still think God doesn’t know what’s going on …
-- APP: God already knows, and now we see how He responds to them
∆ Point 2 – Jesus teaching at the Temple
- Halfway through the festival, Jesus makes His way to the temple to teach
-- Critical: He is not a trained Rabbi, but His message is from God directly
-- The Jews (this is the leaders) would’ve been astonished by this ability (v15)
-- But notice, they are not asking Him … but talking to one another
- Jesus wastes no time in ensuring they have a very clear answer (v16)
-- “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.”
-- Why is this critical? Because He asserts exactly who has sent Him
- Which is followed by v17 to openly challenge their faith/position
-- If you choose to do the God’s will, you will know where my teaching is from
-- APP: It is a direct challenge to what they know, and what they teach
- If you know God’s will, then this teaching will not be foreign to you
-- These choose to do their will, and completely miss where this comes from
- What Jesus does is deflect the attention from Himself and puts it on God
-- IMP: This is where the honor belongs, and where we should look as well
-- Re: All things originate from God; and it is to Him that our focus should be
- He then attacks their motives in full view of each other and the crowd (v18)
-- If you are speaking on your own, then you do so for your own praise/glory
-- But the one who seeks God’s glory there is nothing false about Him
- APP: Notice how Jesus used the Law to reveal their true heart’s desire(s)
-- Jesus says: You guys are speaking to get praise, yet I speak to honor God
-- You received the Law from Moses which speaks against murder, right? (v19)
-- Yet, in your hearts, you are trying to kill me for teaching the truth of God
- His challenge is for them is to see themselves as God sees them – equal
-- They have the Law, yet they are living by their own desires in the Law
- Their response, in essence, is call Jesus paranoid (v20) and delusional (ref v1)
-- He must be, because … how could He know what their true motives are?
-- Unless … Of course! He is God and knows what they are thinking of doing!
- TRANS: So how does Jesus answer them?
∆ Point 3 – Jesus’s Response
- Jesus’s message has always been framed around God’s truth
-- He reminds them that He did one miracle and they were all amazed at it
-- But, they were offended that this was done on the Sabbath
- Re: He is talking about the healing of the lame man in Ch. 5
-- This was done on the Sabbath which just irritated everyone around
- But, Jesus reminds them that they do circumcision on the Sabbath, right?
-- Re: This would be done on the 8th day after birth which may fall on Sabbath
-- So he asks: It is ok to do that on the Sabbath, but not healing people?
-- It is not ok for people to be made whole and pure on the day honoring God?
- Jesus reminds them that the Law wasn’t broken, their tradition was!
-- IMP: re: The point of the Law is always to direct us to Jesus: Gal 3:19-25
- Jesus’s reminder is critical in v24 and we need to see this as well
-- Religion designed by man is not worship of God – it NEVER will be
-- These leaders created a false God to worship, much like the world does now
- They had their preferences and their preferences became tradition/religion
-- IMP: They totally missed the One they should be honoring, which is God!
∆ Big Idea
- Jesus is not asking them to become expert judges of one another– far from it
-- He is instructing them (and us) to know who it is we should worship
-- And when we worship, to do so properly without our own views inserted
- Re: God did not consult us before creating; He doesn’t need our input now
-- Jesus reminds these in attendance of who we should be honoring …
-- Will we worship the One who is MOST deserving?
- Pray
