John 7:1-24 Following A Hated Savior

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Following a Hated Savior

John 7:1-24

Introduction: Fear and confusion fills this chapter. John reveals that by this time in Jesus’ ministry he was boldly proclaiming who he is and why he has come. The result is that many among the multitudes who were following him walked away. When Jesus came to Judea during the feast, the Jewish leaders were seeking to kill him and the crowds were confused about him and even afraid to openly speak of him.

Chapters 7-10 are one segment in which John focuses on Jesus’ time in Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles. Reading those chapters from a “30,000 foot level” illustrates the work of Satan. Imagine living during this time. The religious leaders want to kill him. His brothers don’t believe in him. People are living in fear of being cast out of the synagogue and their lives being ruined. Besides all this, everyone seems to have a different opinion about Jesus. If you are trying to figure out whether to believe in him, obstacles are everywhere.

Have you noticed how many times the gospel writers make us aware of the cultural difficulties that challenge people as they consider what they will do with Jesus? John is teaching us about what it takes to be a true believer and nothing has changed.

1. Setting the Scene
   1. This feast was both remembrance and future expectation, as were all the feasts. Just as the Passover had the expectation of a future deliverance, so the Tabernacles feast had the expectation of future abundance. (Cf. Zechariah 14)
   2. Please keep in mind the message of the text. Who is a true believer and how can we avoid becoming a disciple who is not fully committed?
   3. Now, step back again to chapter two where John began to proclaim who Jesus is (2:13-22).
      1. Jesus went into the temple and drove out the animals and the money-changers and proclaimed, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” Note that Jesus referred to the temple as “his Father’s house. 
      2. When asked for a sign proving he had the authority to do such things, Jesus proclaimed, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (19). Then John explained, “But he was speaking of the temple of his body” (21). 
      3. Now put this together. The original tabernacle/temple was directed to be built by God in order “that I may dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8). In John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” The word “dwelt” is literally “tabernacled.” Jesus became the fulfillment of the original temple and the desire of God to dwell among us and reversal of the Garden curse.
      4. Now, you say, what does this have to do with chapter 7? Jesus is about to go up to the feast. His brothers seem to mock him, urging him to go up and show himself to the world. “If you are really who you say you are, let your disciples see your works.” But Jesus refused. He will go to the feast, but he will not go as his brothers’ desire. His time is not yet. The day will come when he will go up to a feast and proclaim himself with the ultimate sign, but it will not be now.
      5. Now look at 7:1 and 7:10. Jesus was avoiding Judea, at least publicly, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Then, when Jesus did go to the feast, he did not go publicly, he went in private. Be impressed with the message. All the purposes of God from eternity are at a culmination point. God has become flesh in order to redeem his people and dwell in their midst. The Feast of Tabernacles commemorates God’s ultimate provisions to bring them to Rest. But when Jesus comes, he finds his own house occupied by his enemies, ready to kill the owner of the house when he arrives. Therefore, Jesus comes to his house and to the celebration that was intended in his honor, but  instead must sneak into his own palace in order to subvert the rebels who had taken over.
2. The Brothers
   1. It may be difficult to understand why these brothers didn’t believe. After all, we would assume that Mary had told them he was born while she was still a virgin. They would certainly have seen or at least been aware of his miracles. Why is this so difficult?
      1. The first answer would be, Jesus is their brother. It doesn’t matter how good Jesus is or how many miracles he does, “my brother is God!” the one who has been working in Dad’s carpenter shop for the last 15 years?
      2. Second, the brothers give us another hint: “why aren’t you showing yourself to the world in order to get the glory you obviously need to gain a following?” Jesus’ answer must have cut to their heart. The world isn’t clamoring to follow me, they hate me because I testify that its works are evil. And then, “but the world cannot hate you.” The reason is obvious. They are like the world. Listen to that! Would Jesus say that about you or me?
      3. Do we get the message? The “world,” representing the religious leaders and the culture, will hate Jesus, and therefore they will hate his disciples. That is same challenge as today. Our expectations that we can somehow teach Jesus and not alienate the world, is a dangerous belief that will cause us to compromise.
      4. Listen carefully: Jesus was bold, and what he taught caused the world to hate him. Repeat! Why are we avoiding being bold about the same teaching?
   2. There is a certain part of me that is glad the brothers did not believe. In 1 Corinthians 15:7, Paul said, “Then he appeared to James…” Another brother, Judas, wrote the book of Jude. The transformation of the brothers based on Jesus’ resurrection is a major piece of evidence for us to believe. If even they believed, what is our excuse?
3. The Culture of Fear
   1. Jesus went to the feast, but not as the brothers desired, not in their time, but his time, not in their way (publicly), but in his way (privately). It was not until the middle of the feast that Jesus began to teach publicly in the temple.
   2. Note there is a contrast between the “Jews” (leaders) in vs. 11 and the ones who wanted to kill him (vs. 1), and the “people” in verse 12-13. The people are confused about who he is but are in fear of the Jews. The Jews want to arrest him (30) and begin by entering a debate with him.
   3. Consider the approach of the Jews to undermine Jesus:
      1. Verse 15 indicates their arrogance and lack of honesty. “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” The NET translates, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?” What these Jews are saying is that he never received his education from any of us, so how could he know anything?
      2. They are not listening to the content of his teaching or moved to evaluate if this really is the Messiah. No, this comment is a way of discrediting him and putting fear in the people: he may have some learning, but it isn’t from us. How funny. You Jews are talking to the person who wrote the scriptures. Will we do that today? I read a preacher’s bio recently saying that he had spent the last number of years studying to become a scholar. And of course, that is exactly the kind of people Jesus chose to be his 12 apostles – scholars everyone of them! The very idea that a person “schooled” is somehow able to know God better than the person who simply studies the word of God, is far different from the people Jesus seeks.
         Paul said, “And I, when I came to you brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:1-2). 
      3. Jesus’ answer cuts to the heart of the matter. Schooling isn’t the key. “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God…” (vs. 17). There you go; now you know why so many people do not know truth from error. Now you know! Knowing the truth is dependent on desiring to do God’s will. It is also a warning to each of us. Is our will really to do God’s will or are we more concerned with the prevailing culture?
      4. Verses 19-20 The hypocritical Jews “boasted in the Law” (Rom. 2:17-18) and yet when the Law was inconvenient to what they desired, they gladly broke it. It was quite obvious in this setting. Let me mention something that may be shocking to you: none of us want to do 100% of God’s will. Maybe 90% or 95%. There are always certain things about being a disciple that we fight against, or at least compromise. It is another dangerous part of our humanity.
      5. Verse 19: Jesus’ boldness is amazing. “Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” Of course the crowd seems oblivious to this and screams out that he has a demon, without mentioning their violation of the law. There you go; a way to instill fear. If you disagree, just call a person a name, then you won’t need to answer the challenge. Anyone want to follow a person who has a demon?
   4. Verses 21-24 gives another reason for unbelief. Neither the leaders nor the people were able to draw a simple conclusion from their study of the scriptures. And the reason is, they look at the laws of God outside of the context in which those laws are given. They accused Jesus of breaking the Law by healing on the Sabbath. Jesus exploded their foolishness with two simple points and a conclusion:
      1. You Jews diligently circumcise a male baby on the Sabbath if it is the eighth day from the child’s birth. Circumcision is so important that you know such “work” must be done even on the Sabbath. 
      2. The implication of this importance is because the child would not be whole before God and would be cut off from the covenant of God. Therefore the man infirm for 38 years, with his whole body ill and cut off from God would certainly be as great a need as the healing of one part of the body of a child.
      3. Conclusion: Quit judging by appearances. Paul would say it this way in 2 Corinthians: quit judging according to the flesh. Judge with right judgment. Judge based on the truth, not the outward appearances (cultural judgments) of the flesh.
4. Two Critical Applications
   1. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the desire to throw off traditions of men and go back to the scriptures became a passion. In reading of the book of Acts it was obvious that forgiveness of sins took place when one was immersed into Christ. The “discovery” was so exciting that baptism was the talk of the day: “we found the key to salvation!” Could I ask a question? What about the most important and greatest commandment of all? What about love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your might? How many have been baptized but are not obeying the greatest command?

4. 2. We need to reject a culture of fear:
      1. Notice how Jesus was never governed by fear of the religious leaders or the multitudes. He purposely went to the Bethesda pool on the Sabbath and picked one man who illustrated Israel’s 38-year wilderness wanderings, and healed him. Why? To send the message of freedom, to challenge their false understanding of the Sabbath, and to break the bondage of fear that hindered the people from doing good on the Sabbath.
      2. That atmosphere of fear remains in our culture and sometimes even in our churches. A church should never have an atmosphere of fear.
         1. You should never have a fear of presenting an opposing view in our Bible classes – if you truly believe it is textual (not in the sense of wanting to find something new, but wanting to be assured of the truth). 
         2. Worship leaders should not have a fear of leading in a sincere and heartfelt way even when it does not conform to a traditional method. 
         3. Members should feel empowered to seek to do good deeds, set up Bible classes, create and announce prayer meetings, seek the spiritual and physical welfare of others without fear of being rebuked. The only fear that should be present in a local church is the fear of going beyond the word of God. Even elders “silence” the divisive through the teaching of the word (Titus 1:9-11)

Berry Kercheville