The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”....Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?

John 7:40-52

The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”....Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does? John 7:46,51

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:40-52, where we see the reactions of people, including from Jewish leadership, to Jesus' teaching on the last day (the great day) of the Feast of Booths.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Nothing can stop God's plan - although the Jewish leadership sent temple guards/officers to arrest Jesus, "no one laid hands on him" (v44).  Once again, although Jesus did go to Judea from Galilee after initially indicating He would not, His statement that His time had not yet come (for His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection) remains true (as all of His statements are true as He is Truth) - see also vv6,8.  There are no contradictions here just God accomplishing His same plan in a different way.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: There will always be people that do not believe that Jesus is who He says He is.  Here, it is the Jewish leadership and some in the crowd that heard Jesus speak - see vv40-43,47-49,52.  The temple guard/officers clearly see that Jesus is different than other man - see v46.  So does Nicodemus (vv50-51)- see John 3:1-15 where Jesus clearly left a mark.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking your own glory as the Jewish leadership does when they sought to arrest Jesus.  Follow the example of the temple guards/officers and Nicodemus to truly examine and learn about Jesus (and ultimately believe). Claim the promise that Jesus is the Bread of Life, Living Water and that if we believe in Him that Living Water will flow from our heart.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God who loves and saves! You are the Bread of Life, the Living Water and You give the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts so that this Living Water flows from our hearts....incredible!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to Your Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

John 7:37-39

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:37-39, where we see Jesus stand up and cry out for people to believe in Him to be saved and to receive the power of the Holy Spirit (which had yet to come).  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus really wants to save as many as possible - hence we see His plea in v37.  That is why He came - to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).  The promise Jesus makes here is truly astonishing - we will not only not hunger nor will we not thirst again (spiritually) because He is the Bread of Life and the Living Water, we (those that believe) will also - ourselves - have rivers of living water flowing from our hearts. The text lays out that this will be through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and lives as He makes us more like Him - sanctification. The text also ensures we are aware that chronologically in the Gospel narrative here in John 7, this has yet to happen because Jesus must die on the cross first, then rise from the grave, followed by Pentecost (Acts 2).      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Since the Fall (Genesis 3) we have been separated from God - with Jesus we (believers) are reconciled to God and He is in our hearts - this is how He will never leave or forsake us.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Claim the promise of having Living Water flow from your heart! Abide in Him to bear fruit (John 15). 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves and gives the Holy Spirit - Living Waters that flow from my heart.  Thank You Jesus!  Incredible!  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.”

John 7:32-36

Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” John 7:33-34

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:32-36, where we see the Pharisees and chief priests reaction to the people asking themselves whether Jesus is the Promised Messiah as Jesus continues to teach in the temple during the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: In response to efforts to arrest Him, in vv33-34, Jesus offers prophecy about His coming crucifixion and resurrection (to be seated at the right hand of the Father.  The Gospel of John does not explicitly discuss both Jesus' resurrection and ascension (followed by Him being seated at the right hand of God) but these events are in Mark 16:19, and with differing details also in Luke 22:69, 24:50-51, and Matthew 26:64.  In v34 Jesus shares how where He is going no one else will be able to go and in contrast to Jeremiah 29:13 and Matthew 7:7 (Sermon on the Mount) Jesus shares that "[y]ou will seek me and you will not find me."       
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Pharisees and chief priests do not Jesus as the Promised Messiah but instead as a threat to their position and status so we see them seeking to arrest Him - v32.  Vv35-36 details the response from the Jewish leadership who don't understand Jesus' statements as they have hardened hearts and God has not softened them to see that He IS the Promised Messiah.  Of note here is how they refer to the Dispersion and their question whether Jesus' teaching refers to how He will teach the Greek Jews which indeed did happen through various ministry efforts of the early church.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): It is OK to ask questions about God and test scripture (as the Bereans did) and use reason with one another to deepen understanding of His Word, but we should not doubt that Jesus is the Messiah.  He saves.  He IS seated at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven and He is saving a place for us.  Trust in God and believe that He saves and gives eternal life.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves, and is saving a place for me in Heaven where You are now!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”

John 7:25-31

But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” John 7:27-29

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:25-31, where we see continued reactions to Jesus' teaching in the temple during the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus shares that His origin is from the Father who is True (vv28-29).  He also shares that the people do not know God the Father - He who sent Jesus (v29). In v30 we see that nothing will stop God's plan of Jesus' death and resurrection despite the Jewish leadership having opportunity to arrest Him.       
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people of Jerusalem struggle to understand why the Jews - who are seeking to kill Jesus (v25) - are not confronting Jesus now that He is in plain sight and not avoiding the Jews (in contrast to vv1-3,6,8).  The people think they know Jesus based on where He is from and from their incomplete understanding of OT prophecies of Jesus (OT prophecies are clear that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, but prophecies of Jesus' hometown being Nazareth are inconclusive - see this).  Regardless, the people's understanding of scripture should lead them to believe that Jesus IS the Christ, the Promised Messiah. Many believed in Jesus - see v31 - although the text shares that they believed because of the signs He performed not that they believed He is the Promised Messiah.      
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid making claims about Jesus that are not scripturally accurate.  Claim the promise that Jesus was sent by the Father and the Father is Truth so Jesus is Truth because all things have been given by the Father to the Son.  Claim the promise also that nothing will stop God's plan - of course with certainty we can say that He will come again, and believers are saved.  Follow Jesus' example to challenge those who claim to know scripture but add to/subtract from the Word to support their own motives. Bring the Word everywhere! 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

 John 7:14-24

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.  John 7:16-18

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:14-24, where Jesus, now that He is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths, starts teaching in the temple.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Although initially hesitant to go into Judea from Galilee because "His time had not yet come" (vv6,8), once there Jesus goes straight to the temple to teach (v14).  RC Sproul identifies preaching of the Word is central to a church and Jesus squarely focuses on teaching as a priority with His ministry.  In response to the Jews who marveled at Jesus' "learning" without "stud[ying]," Jesus responds humbly and shares (vv16-18) that His learning and teaching is not His own but that of the Father who sent Him.  He then shares that anyone seeking to follow the Father's desires will "know" (with certainty or a promise implied) whether Jesus' teaching is from God or not.  This echoes words from Romans 12:2, where Paul writes that as we read God's Word (seek Him and His will for our lives), He renews our mind and gives us the ability to know the inerrancy of God's Word and His will for our lives.  Jesus then challenges the Jews (leadership) as He shares that they share falsehoods and act with hypocrisy because they seek their own authority/glory (v18) and not the will of the Father who authored the very Word they claim to follow.  Jesus' final statement (v24) in response to the Jews is quite pointed as He shares that they judge by appearances (external behaviors) vs understanding someone's heart and intent.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People often seek their own glory and emphasize their own authority vs that of God.  This drives pride, arrogance, envy, anger, etc.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking your own glory and emphasizing your own authority.  Do not judge on appearances.  Claim the promise that if you seek His will, You will understand the authority of God and the inerrancy of His Word.  Follow Jesus' example in humility to know where our learning comes from - in fact - every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17).  Understand and do God's will.  Study His Word to discern His will and allow for the renewing of your mind.     

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My Prayer: Father God, Your are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

 John 7:10-13

Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. John 7:13

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:10-13, where Jesus, although initially remaining in Galilee and not going to Judea during the Feast of Booths, does go to Judea - albeit "privately" to avoid greater attention from the Jews seeking to kill him. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The text is not explicit why Jesus initially does not go to Judea during the Festival of Booths (see vv1, 8) and the other gospel accounts do not discuss this episode. Yet here Jesus apparently changes His mind - and because Jesus acts with intent and there is a plan, one can only surmise that there is a reason why Jesus goes to Judea and this is part of His plan.  Looking just at this text we are left with mystery as far as Jesus' intent. Perhaps text elsewhere in John in this and other chapters will give us more clarity.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: In Jerusalem, the Jews continue to look for Jesus - again seeking to kill him.  Among the people in Jerusalem, there was much chatter about Jesus both for and against Him. V13 shares how "no one spoke openly of Jesus" out of fear of the Jews.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We know ultimately that Jesus will be arrested and crucified - and the disciples scatter.  In John 16:33, the disciples are told by Jesus to take heart as He has overcome the world (in the face of persecution).  Jesus does not want us to be living in fear but instead to speak openly of Him and how He saves.  We must follow His example and command (Great Commission) to take the Word everywhere. We (believers) too have overcome the world - claim this promise!

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My Prayer: Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You have overcome the world and give me the gift of eternal life and the power to defeat sin in my life.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.

 John 7:1-9

You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come. John 7:8

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:1-9, where Jesus continues to remain in Galilee - having just taught at the synagogue in Capernaum.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Once again we see Jesus focused squarely on His plan - He will not be deterred by the prompting of the disciples to go to Judea - vv3-5.  Jesus will not leave Galilee and go into Judea as He knows the "Jews were seeking to kill him" (v1).  In response to the prompting to go to Judea where the Jews were celebrating the Feast of Booths, Jesus shares that His "time has not come yet, but your time is always here" (v6).  He repeats that His time has not come yet once again in v8.  Jesus also shares in v7 that world hates Jesus because "[He] testif[ies] about it that its works are evil."      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The disciples believe they have a better plan than that of Jesus - see vv3-5 where their argument to Him to go to Judea is that Jesus' works must be more visible for people to believe in Him.  Yet what the disciples don't know is that the greatest work of all time - the raising of Jesus from the grave - is on the way.  And....Jesus has more work to do both with the disciples and with His ministry.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking not our own will but that of God.  Follow Jesus' example to focus on the Father’s will and not be deterred.   

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My Prayer: Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You followed the Father's will to be delivered to death only to be raised in three days....You stuck to this plan and would not be deterred to follow others' will for Your life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of what You did...for me personally and for all of humanity.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.