Read John 7:1-13. All the events here in John are unique; that is, they are not recorded in any of the other Gospel writers. This is not unusual since John did not use the same oral account that the other writers used. He relied more upon his personal experiences. The feast of tabernacles took place on September 10-17 in AD 32. It was one of the three great feasts which all godly Jews tried to celebrate in Jerusalem.
1. Why was Jesus avoiding Jewry, that is, the territory of Judea?
The Jews (religious leaders) were seeking to kill Him. This does not mean He was afraid or a coward. It was not the time for Him to die yet. He avoided opposition because it served no purpose. It did not do anything to convince those who opposed Him, for their minds were already made up. No amount of truth would persuade them at this point. It also took valuable time away from His ministry to the disciples and the people.
2. What did Jesus’ brothers suggest that He do and why?
They suggested He go to Judea and carry out His ministry there to get more publicity since He claimed to be Messiah.
3. In verse 8 of chapter 7, Jesus tells his brothers, “Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast…” but in verse 10, He does go up. Did Jesus purposely mislead His brothers?
Of course not! Our Lord never lied in His entire life, not even a little white lie. His statement most like means, “You go on up without me, I’m not coming up with you to this feast right now.” Or it might be that He at that time intended not to go at all but later changed His mind and went up secretly.
4. Why do you think Jesus went up secretly?
As has been stated, He did intend open confrontation with the religious establishment; it was not time. He did not want to push them into action before it was appropriate.
Read John 7:14-8:59. This is a long section of various things Jesus taught in the Temple while attending the feast of Tabernacles, which lasted a week. Although He arrived secretly, probably with a few of His disciples (Peter, James and John), His teaching could not be kept quiet. There is not a single topic, nor is this a single discourse. It is a variety of topics as Jesus responded to the questions and comments of the people and religious leaders over the course of this week.
5. What surprised many of the Jews about our Lord’s teachings? (See verse 7:15)
That he knew so much without formal theological training.
6. What was our Lord’s reply to the question about how He learned so much having never been formally trained?
He told them the things He taught were not man’s ideas but God’s. It was not stuff that He was making up, but it had come from God. He also told them that if anyone really desired to do God’s will, then this person would be able to know that what our Lord was saying was indeed from God and not just human ideas and philosophy.
7. What objection did the Jews make about Jesus’ background in verse 7:27?
That when the Messiah comes, no one will know His background, but they all knew about Jesus’ background. In their minds, they pictured a heroic Messiah who would appear out of nowhere, someone unknown and mysterious, not someone they knew about and had seen grow up.
8. What objection did the Jews make about our Lord’s background in verses 7:41-42?
That Jesus was from Galilee, but the Messiah was supposed to be from Bethlehem. They did not know or realize that He was indeed born in Bethlehem but had soon left and had been reared in Galilee.
9. On the last day of the feast, when the priest poured out the water from the golden pitcher, what did Jesus say would flow from within a person if they believed in Him?
Rivers of living water
10. What did Jesus mean by this statement?
Jesus was referring to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within a believer. Just as the water, poured out upon the ground, pictured the life-giving water which caused the crops to grow and be fruitful, so the Spirit would give life to those who believed and make them fruitful and productive.
11. What statement did Jesus make of Himself in verse 8:12?
He is the light of the world.
12. What did He mean by this statement?
Times were dark both spiritually and physically for the nation of Israel. The Jewish people felt this because they lived under Roman domination, and for about four hundred years, God had not spoken to them. Where was He, and when would He act? They were in the dark! But the light had now come in the Messiah. He was the light. He was the revelation of God; God now spoke through Him. He could guide them out of the darkness of those times and into the light of the glorious kingdom.
13. What did Jesus tell the Jews who believed in Him would make them free?
They would know the truth, and the Truth (Jesus) would make them free.
14. What did He mean by this statement?
Although the religious leaders objected strongly to the implication of our Lord that they were not free and declared that they were enslaved to no one, they were, in reality, slaves. They were slaves to the Roman oppressors. Contrary to what they claimed, theirs was not a free nation. More importantly, however, they were slaves to their own nature, slaves to sin. Our Lord’s promise of freedom does ultimately include national freedom from all oppression, but more critically, it was the freedom from sin, its power and its penalty.
15. What did Jesus tell the religious leaders would be true for those who kept His sayings (word) in chapter 8 verse 51?
They would never see death. Does this mean they would never physically die? No, it means they would not suffer the second and final death, eternal judgment in hell away from the presence of God.
16. What remarkable statement did Jesus make regarding Himself and Abraham’s birth or existence?
That before Abraham was, I am
17. What did this statement imply?
That before Abraham ever came into being, He, Jesus, already existed
Read John 9:1-10:23. Jesus performs another miracle of healing on the Sabbath. This time He did it in such a way that it conflicted with the religious traditions.
18. What questions did the disciples ask about the blind man?
Who sinned that this man was born blind?
19. What was our Lord’s answer?
His blindness was not a direct result of personal sin, but it was allowed so God’s work might be displayed in his life.
20. Do you think this man was grateful for his healing? Why?
Yes, He refused to deny God’s work through Jesus even when he was expelled from the synagogue and confessed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
The Applications:
What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.
1. All sickness and disease is a result of sin, at least indirectly, but it may not be a direct result of any individual personal sin. Had our forefather Adam not sinned, we would not have sickness and disease today; there would be no genetic defects. We would be living in a perfect world. But Adam did sin, and as a result, death, disease and a host of other malicious things became a part of our world and life. We suffer these, although personally, we may not be directly the cause of them. A baby born with genetic defects may be the result of drug abuse by its mother, or it may not. Godly parents, who do as much right as possible, still bear children with congenital defects. It was not the parent’s sin who caused this, nor certainly was it the sin of the unborn child. Bad things do happen to good and godly people. God allows this.
The reason He allows it, we are told here, is to demonstrate His power and work. Sometimes He does heal miraculously; sometimes He does not. Often the misfortune may be lifelong, and yet still He may be glorified in it. God allowed this man to be born blind and to be blind for many, many years until he was healed by our Lord. God allowed Paul’s thorn in the flesh to continue throughout his life, but in doing so exalted Himself and strengthened Paul. Joni Eareckson Tada’s paralysis glorified God and benefited not her alone but millions of others.
2. How does one acquire spiritual wisdom and knowledge, an understanding of the Scriptures and how they apply to life? Indeed, the study of the Scriptures themselves is vital, and a seminary training certainly can help; but the key factor is an attitude, the willingness to be obedient to God, the desire to know and honor Him. This is primary, and without it, all other avenues are dead ends.
It is God’s Spirit who reveals and teaches God’s wisdom. Those who are willing to obey and draw near to God will be taught by His spirit. Yes, God does use formal training and gifted teachers. But training and teachers without the illuminating Spirit is futile.
3. All seek purpose and fulfillment in life. It is normal and necessary for this is how we were created. The problem is that in rejecting God, humanity has lost its direction, meaning and purpose in seeking after and knowing Him. It has replaced this with a multitude of other goals and ends, and in seeking these substitutes, it has come up short. To be sure, some of the goals and purposes to be found are noble and good; some are selfish and base. But even the best fall short of knowing and bringing glory to the Creator. And life, therefore, even when filled with things and activity, can be empty and meaningless.
Our Lord provides the answer to empty lives and drab existence. He is the well of water that gives life and fruitfulness. He is the light that gives direction in a world lost in darkness that grows ever deeper. He gives life without end, not a monotonous tiring existence, but one full of meaning and excitement. He is the answer to all of the questions!