Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out (John 7)*

John 7:1-52

Key verse: “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

Introduction

Today’s story takes place during the Feast of Tabernacles, which was in September or October of the year before Jesus’ arrest (i.e. about six months before his crucifixion during the Passover in March or April). Also, as we can see from the main event in today’s passage, Jesus’ main activities were mainly in or near Jerusalem. This period is marked by intense conflicts between him and the Jewish leaders. Jesus and the crowd got into a long discourse, which some have likened to a trial where the plaintiff’s and defendant’s lawyers exchange pieces of evidence to support their claims and apologetic arguments.

As we will realize, apologetic arguments seldom bring people to faith, because faith does not come from human reasoning or arguments about earthly things/facts. Nevertheless, in his fierce conflict with the Jewish leaders, Jesus argued for the truth that he had come from God and was the source of life, while he was refuting their arguments that discredited him as the Messiah. In the midst of this discourse, he gave them the key reason for belief or disbelief: anyone who is willing to do God’s will would find that what Jesus taught was true. So, one’s understanding of God’s stern holiness and judgment or their standing in His sight would either fail or reveal His truth to them through Jesus, the Word.

Today’s passage is about unbelief and how we should handle it. I consider that, not only what is taught, but also how to engage with strangers, is important as well. Jesus set the scene for this discourse. The setting was in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:1-13). There, the first thing he did was teach the people from God’s word, i.e. the Old Testament, focusing mainly on how and what God had done, including His judgment and blessing for Israel. Second, Jesus pointed out their sin and quickened their hearts to recognize God’s truth (14-27). Third, Jesus responded to their question, centering his discussion on one central issue: where he was from (28-32). Fourth, he offered them a new hope, the living water which wells up to eternal life (33-43).

Jesus did this, even while his life was being threatened by hostile Jewish religious leaders. The end result speaks of God’s will and wisdom. Two groups of people were involved in this discourse; one group was favorable toward Jesus’ claim, and the other was filled with doubts. In the end, one group was firmly convinced and declared that Jesus was the Messiah, the Prophet, while the other firmly resolved in their hearts to kill him (44-53).

1.    The Feast of Tabernacles (1-13)

The Feast of Tabernacles was the most celebrated and most favored among the three Jewish feasts. It was the time for harvesting fruits and vegetables; it was also a celebration to commemorate the time when the Jews used tabernacles in the wilderness while they were on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. During this time, God accompanied them in the midst of the tabernacles; this feast was the appointed time for them to remember God’s presence among them and how He had blessed them with all of the provisions they needed for life. They had no fear, except for their fear of God. As they failed to serve God as He expected, God distanced Himself from His people, Israel, and they suffered greatly; under such distress and hardship, this feast was a reminder of His former abundance of blessing and their hope that He would return to dwell with them in such blessing again.

There were two activities during this feast that are worthy to note; first, the ceremonial drawing of water from the Pool of Siloam, and the lighting of many candles in the women’s camp. These two symbolic festivities looked forward to the time when God’s abundant blessing would return and when their life in His blessing and truth, which was foretold and hoped for with great enthusiasm, would be realized.

In this regard, this was the feast that all of Israel cherished and looked forward to, and actually, there came one of the largest gatherings of the Diasporas from all of the surrounding countries. So, as a Jewish man, Jesus was also required to go to celebrate this Feast; however, he knew well that, if he went there, the Pharisees and chief priests would surely look for him to arrest him. Therefore, he went to Galilee and did not seem to show an intention of going to Jerusalem for the feast at all. Then his brothers said this to him:

“Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." (John 7:3-4).

It is obvious that their human perspective was quite right and good if Jesus wanted to succeed in becoming the leader of the nation; however, Jesus said this to them:

“Therefore Jesus told them, "My time is not yet here; for you, any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come." (John 7:6-8).

For the Israelites, it was a time of celebration for their hope of God’s blessing and kingdom. However, Jesus’ highest priority was confronting Israel’s sin, which was deeply entrenched in their hearts and must be dealt with, in order for God’s blessing to come and restore the hope and blessing that this festivity symbolized. To accomplish this, Jesus had to testify that they were wicked and sinful; he needed to confront these people, face to face, with what was wrong with them and what the nation as a whole and her leaders must do. During his last visit to Jerusalem, Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath, who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years (John 5) and had thus challenged the Israelite leaders’ authority as the keepers of the Law of Moses. Since then, they had been looking for an occasion to arrest and kill him. How then could Jesus avoid their attempts to arrest him, while still delivering God’s message clearly? Jesus declined his brothers’ suggestion and looked for a right time when he could deliver God’s word clearly and directly to these religious leaders’ faces.

Thus, he stayed in Galilee until the feast was nearing its end and then went to Jerusalem in secret. He suddenly appeared in the temple and began to teach the people from God’s word. Until he appeared, what was going on among the people?

“Now at the festival, the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, "Where is he?" Among the crowds, there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.” (John 7:11-13).

The Jewish leaders were looking for Jesus, asking here and there, “Where is he?” As Jesus showed his concern, they were watching him with hawk eyes, especially when they heard many in the crowd commenting that he was a good man. Such zeal was dissipating as the Feast drew to a close and the people were well into the feasting mood. Jesus suddenly appeared in the temple and taught them from God’s words.

2.    Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly (14-27)

Jesus taught the people with his Father’s words. He suddenly appeared at the temple and taught the people. It seemed that many of them had not seen him before and were listening to him. His words were so rich, so deep, and so powerful that everyone who heard him was amazed.

“The Jews there were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having been taught?" (John 7:15).

Jesus was never taught by any of the leaders of Israel and had never learned from any Israelite institutions. The Pharisees, the teachers of the Law, and the high priests held all of Israel’s intellectual assets. If Jesus did not have any association with these groups of people, then where did he get such knowledge concerning God’s word?

Mark said that Jesus taught them as one who had authority (Mark 1:22). He not only taught them the depth and width of God’s words but also spoke with authority. This impressed God’s truth on the people’s minds and hearts, revealing their sins, misunderstandings, and ignorance, while also enlightening their hearts with divine hope and love. While they were listening, there was little room left in their hearts for anything, except for the power of Jesus’ words as he filled them with God’s truth. Where then did Jesus learn all of these things? Or where did he obtain all of this knowledge? Jesus answered them in this way:

“Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” (John 7:16-17).

The extensiveness, profundity, and sharpness of his powerful and authoritative teaching were not of human means, but of God. His teaching itself spoke for the fact that he was not an ordinary man, but from God, amply testifying for the fact that he was the Son of God the Father. Nevertheless, not all of those who listened to Jesus accepted this. How then can one know if Jesus is really from God? He offered two ways to know for sure. First, they might enjoy the richness and power of God’s words, and yet, if they were not willing to obey what they had heard, rebellion and distrust set in and all truth evaporates from their hearts. Did they have the will to do what God commanded? Jesus was asking them to examine themselves. If anyone had the will to obey God, then he would be able to discern that Jesus’ teaching was not from man but from God. Jesus added the second reason for them to trust his word as being from God.

“Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” (John 7:18).

He was saying that everything he had taught them was to glorify God, rather than himself. This was a sufficient reason for them to trust what he was saying. We talk and communicate with other people for a specific purpose; most of our talk is to promote ourselves, specifically our desires, purposes, and goals. Seldom are the men who promote someone other than themselves in the ultimate sense; however, Jesus’ goal was to uphold God’s glory. This was evident to them since they were amazed at his teaching. This is the true picture of one who fears God. Instead, all men follow Adam, who failed to honor God and set out to glorify himself. Is the fear of God visible in his or her action? What is evident in what we do? Is it one’s desire, will, dream, hope or God’s glory?

In these two ways, Jesus presented himself as God’s spokesman, and he had nothing to do with evil or ungodly things.

Jesus rebuked them:

After setting his position firmly on God’s side, Jesus rebuked them:

“Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?" (John 7:19).

Suddenly, he turned to them and rebuked them for their murderous threats against him. They charged Jesus for violating the Law of Moses by working on the Sabbath. Why did they violate the law that they strongly upheld? In their expression of fervent zeal for the Law of Moses, they accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath Law because he had healed a man on the Sabbath. However, in their hearts, they were guilty of a far more egregious violation of the Law of Moses, the killing of an innocent man.

Jesus continued as they denied his charges:

“Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually, it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man's whole body on the Sabbath?” (John 7:21-23).

Jesus healed a man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years, and they were all amazed. They also circumcised infant boys on the Sabbath in order to keep the Law of Moses. If they circumcised a boy to make him whole in the eyes of the Law, then what was wrong with making a man whole on the Sabbath by healing him? Jesus’ argument was pointed and strong; his healing of the man crippled for thirty-eight years was in pursuit of the same goal for which they were striving - to uphold the Law of Moses. They were wrong and their motive was not to uphold the Law, but something else. Therefore, Jesus concluded his rebuke in this way:

“Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

As we noted, these people were looking for Jesus, because they held a murderous threat against him. However, Jesus fearlessly confronted them with God’s truth, as found in the Law of Moses. There was silence; none of those leaders could rebut the truth. The people in the crowd asked:

"Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah?” (John 7:26).

The leaders were silent, for they could not rebut his answer. However, some others raised a serious question about Jesus’ origins, a very troubling one for many.

“But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from." (John 7:27).

3.    I am not here on my own authority (28-36)

In the first part of his discourse, Jesus made a charge against the Israelite leaders. Now he was pushed into a defensive position; he had to defend himself from the charge that he was not the Messiah because he was from Galilee and his father was a carpenter. Where was he from? If he was truly from Galilee and from a carpenter’s family, then he could not be the Messiah. How could Jesus explain this? Was he going to explain how he had been conceived through the Holy Spirit? Did he have to bring in his mother, Mary, to testify that he was from God, born of a virgin?

“Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me." (John 7:28-29).

Jesus acknowledged that they knew his family and his hometown, which seemingly had no link to God’s prophecy; however, he said that he came, not according to his will and purpose, but by His Father’s will. God sent Jesus, and he was born to and raised in Galilee by a carpenter father, according to His will. Whatever God did, Jesus knew that He was true and right, even though he was from a carpenter’s family living in Galilee. They did not know the Father as Jesus knew him and believed in him, even though they claimed to know Him. The difference is that Jesus had no doubt about the one who had sent him to this world, what his purpose was, his truthfulness, his good will, his wisdom, and his knowledge. In this way, Jesus showed utter trust in the Father, even in matters about which he had little ideas, such as his birth and his family background; what was God’s purpose in all of this? Practically, no one can discern exactly why or how each of us came to be born in the family that we have. What did this mean to those who had serious doubts about Jesus, because they could not get any scriptural support or evidence regarding his birth?

This told them one thing; it was not their intellectual ability to discern whether or not Jesus was from God, but rather their fear of and trust in God to lead them to faith that enabled them to believe and overcome their intellectual shortcomings. In this way, Jesus told them that he trusted and knew his Father, but he knew that they did not yet trust or know Him. Unless you have genuine fear and trust in the Father, you will be living in darkness, oblivious to the truth!

Genuine trust and fear of the Lord is an essential part of an apologetic discourse, which ends with a note on how the people responded to these arguments:

“At this, they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, "When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?" The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.” (John 7:30-32).

Though there were people who tried to seize him, the power of God’s word was still working among them, and they could not put their hands on him. Therefore, John says ‘his hour had not yet come’ (30b). The hour would be referring to the Passover. Until that time, God would maintain His power over His people, lest their sinfulness take control of Jesus’ life. While God’s power was still at work in forbidding these people to lay hands on Jesus, the leaders’ mind was driven further against accepting His power. They sent for the temple guards to arrest Jesus, presenting an open challenge against God’s authority. In this way, these leaders committed themselves to arresting Jesus at this time, during the Feast of Tabernacle. But could their will succeed?

4.    Anyone who is thirsty, come to me (33-43)

As the leaders sent for the temple guards to arrest Jesus, he revealed something unusual to them.

“Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come." (John 7:33-34).

Jesus said that he was going to be with them for a short while, and then he was going to the One who had sent him. The troubling thing for them was that, even if they looked for him, they would not find him and could not come where he was going. The key question was where the One who sent him was, for Jesus was going back to Him. For this question, they thought:

“The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What did he mean when he said, 'You will look for me, but you will not find me,' and 'Where I am, you cannot come'?" (John 7:35-36).

This tells us that they had no understanding of God; He was the least of which they were thinking. This word looks for an insightful or faithful mind that searches for the kingdom of God, which is in heaven. Since none of them had such hope, none of them could fathom what he was talking about. At one point, they needed such miracles and teachings, but then even if they desperately needed Jesus, they would not find him; such power and grace wouldn’t be available. “You cannot find me and you cannot come” were distasteful comments and were not easy to swallow. These words left their minds hanging in uncertainty concerning his whereabouts. Unless they saw everything and believed in God’s ultimate place, they would all remain in uncertainty and their lives would be hanging in darkness and oblivion.

However, Jesus did not leave them without a clear answer to this hanging situation. He offered them a firm and final answer, as well as a final hope.

“On the last and greatest day of the festival,” (John 7:37).

The last day of the festival was marked by a grand feast. The high priest went to the Pool of Siloam and filled his bag with water. He would then carry it on his back to the Holy Place in the temple, and pour it out before the Lord. He did this once every day during this Feast, but on the last day, he repeated this process seven times. This water ritual was to signify Israel’s eager hope to receive God’s abundant blessing. In the land of God’s promise, water was a very precious commodity, because their living was totally dependent upon rainfall. In this aspect, the Promised Land was the total opposite of the land of Egypt, which did not depend on the rain because there was always an abundance of water available from the Nile River. Therefore, Israel’s economy totally depended on God’s grace, who controlled the rainfall from heaven. The word, ‘thirst,’ was real, not only on a personal level, but it was also essential for the very survival of the nation, as seen when she experienced three years of drought when God withheld the rain because of Israel’s ungodliness under King Ahab and his pagan wife, Jezebel.  

As the Feast was ending, one question remained unanswered, would God bring such blessing on them again? If so, then when? While these questions loomed, Jesus came out and said in a loud voice:

“Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."” (John 7:37b-38).

This was a voice of invitation to answer the question left unanswered. Their need for water was great; that need could not be met unless one saw the ultimate resolution of their life as being in God’s everlasting hand. Jesus had that key and offered them a drink that could quench their spiritual thirst once and for all. Jesus was the source of that water, which would flow like a river from within the believer if he or she believes in him. In him, there won’t be any more needs, thirsts, or unanswered questions in life. John made it clear what the water flowing like a river from within was; it was the Holy Spirit, who will satisfy all of our needs and answer all of our questions in life. On hearing Jesus’ words, some said boldly:

“On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet." Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still, others asked, "How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David's descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.” (John 7:40-43).

This is the fourth recording of these people’s responses (11-13; 25-27;31-32; 40-43). There was a remarkable change among those who believed in Jesus; they came out boldly by saying that he was the Messiah or the Prophet. Despite the religious leaders’ threats, these people became more convinced as they watched the intense debate between Jesus and those who sought to discredit him. This was a great success, although because of this reaction, the Pharisees’ and high priests’ resolution against him became firmer.

What does this tell us? Men have made remarkable advances in supplying for life’s needs. In light of this abundance of supplies, some say that they have all that they need and can live without God. However, in reality, despite man’s ability to abundantly supply for most human needs, far more so than at any other time in human history, men’s needs are still at large, and those needs never go away, constantly gnawing at so many people’s minds. To them, Jesus offers the living water that percolates within their heart. Likewise, we must also believe in him!

5.    God’s perfect will made evident in the fullness of man’s sin (44-53)

“Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.” (John 7:44).

After all, Jesus did what he was sent to do: to testify the truth that the world was evil and that they must repent and believe in him as the Messiah and the Son of God. Jesus’ word was so powerful that those who heard him would not dare to put their hand on him; even the temple guards whom the Pharisees and chief priests had sent with a command to arrest him, were moved by his teaching and said this:

"No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards replied.” (John 7:46).

At the same time, Nicodemus, who had visited Jesus one night, came out against his fellow members of the ruling council and defended Jesus:

"Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?" (John 7:51).

Even with such powerful arguments against their unbelief, the Israelite leaders did not budge and stood their ground:

"Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law-- there is a curse on them." (John 7:48-49).

Their justification for rejecting Jesus as the Messiah was firm; he was from Galilee and they believed no prophet should come from Galilee. This was from God’s wisdom to send Jesus to Galilee, making him a Galilean. In His wisdom, God hid His Son’s genuine origin from man’s unbelieving and ungodly eyes, who would eventually drive themselves to murder the Messiah. The sin of their unbelief shall bear fruit. Here, God’s wisdom is evident in His seeking out the faithful only. When one sees Jesus, they must also consider what he did and taught. In them, we can see the true evidence that he was the Son of God, the Messiah. In and through these events, we must see God’s presence in him. In the flesh, he was completely human, born of a woman, reared as the child of a carpenter in Galilee. However, in the essence of his being, he was the Son of God, enclosed in the flesh. This was all for mankind’s sake. In what he did and taught in the flesh, we must recognize God’s power and grace. Only after discovering and accepting this axis—God the Father, and Jesus the Son - can true faith be formed and solidified. This is the faith that God sought then, and still seeks even now.