Feb 16
John 7:1-7
Jesus’s plan vs. his brothers plan
EVERYTHING … ON PURPOSE
John
7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.
GOD’S PERFECT TIMING
ever try to get a job done early? “ working ahead “
2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,
God. (Leviticus 23:39-43 ESV)
To summarize this passage:
- Sukkot is a happy seven-day holiday.
- It starts on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.
- It is connected to the harvest.
- The first and eighth days are days of rest.
- One should rejoice using four kinds of plants.
- It is an everlasting commandment.
- Jewish people in Israel are commanded to dwell in a sukkah for seven days.
- It is a commemoration of the exodus from Egypt.
https://ffoz.org/discover/sukkot/the-feast-of-tabernacles.html
Colin Kruse explains the Feast of Booths (John [IVP Academic], p. 181):
“The feast had a double purpose: to remember Israel’s time in the wilderness when they lived in booths, and to rejoice before the Lord after harvest (in particular the grape, olive and fruit harvests). It also involved looking forward to a new exodus, the time when the kingdom of God would be brought in with all its attendant blessings.”
But this feast also pointed the Israelites to a time when God would again ‘tabernacle’ with his people, in the future. As Christians, this is something we can joyfully celebrate, and it’s something the early (largely Jewish) Church understood. See for example, John 1:14 which can be translated: “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and tabernacled among us.
3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
THE LIVING BIBLE
“Go where more people can see your miracles!” they scoffed. 4 “You can’t be famous when you hide like this! If you’re so great, prove it to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.”
In 7:3-4, Jesus’ brothers offer Him some unsolicited “career” advice: ….
But, since He was their brother, they didn’t turn away as the offended disciples had done. Rather, they gave Him their opinion of how He could best establish His claims if they were true. But their advice was based on a complete misunderstanding of Jesus’ divine origin and His mission.
7:5 Apparently Jesus’ brothers later did come to trust in him—see Acts 1:14.
https://bible.org/seriespage/10-exegetical-commentary-john-7
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.
“But in this passage the word is kairos (Greek #2540), which characteristically means an opportunity; that is, the best time to do something, the moment when circumstances are most suitable, the psychological moment. Jesus is not saying here that the destined hour of God has not come but something much simpler. He is saying that that was not the moment which would give him the chance for which he was waiting.”
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/john-7.html
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.
A man is faced with a simple alternative if he allows Christ into his orbit. He can either do what he likes or he can do what Christ likes; and if he wishes to go on doing as he likes, he must seek to eliminate Christ.
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/john-7.html
Illus – fibonacci / sunflower
If such for flowers, what about depth of his plan for our salvation.
HW :
beware – very “math heavy” at the beginning, but hang in there ….