John 7 - The Feast of Tabernacles
v. 37-52: Last week, Jim went over this passage. A lot about the water ritual used as part of the feast and how this pointed towards Jesus. This week continues on for that.
The Peoples Response
V. 40 Who is the prophet?
Deuteronomy 18:15-22 Jim mentions that this passage is the prophet referred to. That the word deuteronomy means a second telling of the law. In our Thursday night study we went over this book, and one book mentioned that the book took the form of treaty of that era.
What is prophecy?
We often thing of it as forth telling. In the bible the prophet was a preacher. Their job was to shine the light of God, to point the way to him, to reveal his will to the people.
v. 41 This is the Christ?
Though we think of the prophet and christ as the same, at this time they didn't realize this yet. The Christ is the anointed one. Kings were anointed. This is the kingly aspect of Jesus, therefore the reference to the line of David here. At this time to after the captivity, this wasn't just to be any old king, but the eternal king promised in the old testament.
The Division
V. 41-42 But he's not from Galilee
He's not from Judea, they said, he's from Nazareth, one of the hick towns in the north. Of course, he was born in Bethlehem. Interesting how this shows that the prejudice of people groups and regions exists in all times.
v. 44-49 But he is a blasphemer.
The Pharisees ask the guards, why they didn't bring him, and said that no one spoke like him, that his words spoke true and with authority. These aren't just uneducated men either, these were the Levite guards, who would have been trained in theology and the scripture. The Pharisees question them not along lines of insubordination, but from a place theological elitism.
v.50 The call out
Nicodemus stands up and calls them out. They were passing judgement on him without hearing Jesus first. Perhaps Nicodemus is at this point is already a follower of Jesus. Either way he acts rightly in this.
v. 52 The response of confusion
No prophet from galilee. But Jonah was from there. They were showing their own pride in these statements. Sometimes the response to Jesus is one of pride and confusion. Their statements filled so much with self assurance led them to miss the very declaration that God had placed before them.
v.52 The response of rejection
We see the strong response to both Jesus and those around him, the same response we will often get today, and that is one of rejection. Let us be prepared in the strength of God. When we share this awesome good news, let us not hide this part. There is a high cost, a road of pain. But oh the joy, the joy of greater value.
No Response to "John 7 - The Feast of Tabernacles"
Leave A Reply