The Gospel of John: John 7.1-24

Read and meditate on John 7.6-11.
Jesus was a realist when it came to the world of His day. He was on a mission of God’s love, but He understood that not everyone would see Him that way.

                 ⁶Then Jesus said, “My set
time is not come; your time will always be.
⁷The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me
because I say its works are evil. ⁸You
go to this feast. I am not going to
it, for My time is not yet fully come.”
⁹When He had said these things, He stayed for some
time longer there in Galilee. ¹⁰But when
His brothers had gone to Judea, then
He also went up to the feast. But He
went secretly, rather than openly.
¹¹The Jews were seeking Him. They wondered where
He was.

- John 7.6-11

Reflect
1.  Though it’s not in the original Greek text, some translations supply the word yet in verse 8 (NKJV: “I am not yet going up…”). Why? Does it compromise Jesus’ veracity to leave it out? Explain. Complete this prayer: Lord, Your Word may not always be easy to understand, but it is always true and sufficient. Today, help me…

2.  What reason did Jesus give for not going up to the feast? Does it seem to you that He intended His response to illuminate something about His brothers to them? Explain. Let the light of Your Word shine on my heart every day, Lord, so that…

3.  Here again, as in John 2 (when speaking to His mother), Jesus alludes to a “time” that was set for Him. The Jews want to kill Jesus, and He is willing for this to happen. But He is sovereign over the timing. Why do we need to know this? Why did Jesus mention this matter of His “time”? You are the Lord of time, Jesus, including my time. Help me use the time You give me each day for…

4.  Jesus remained in Galilee a while, but finally went up to Jerusalem after His brothers had gone. Why did He go in secret (v. 10)? Lord, You make Yourself known in Your way and time. Help me to use my time and all my ways, Lord, to…

5. The Jews were looking for Jesus at the feast. We know why, and so did Jesus. The people feared their religious leaders (v. 13), so they must have been put on warning about associating with Jesus. Do people interfere with others’ believing in Jesus in our day? Explain. Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“He goes up, not to suffer, but to teach. But why does he go up secretly? If he had gone up openly, he would not only have been among them, but also would have kept the violence and impetuosity [of the Jews] in check, as he had often done before. But he couldn’t keep doing this all the time, because if he had gone up openly and again blinded them, he would have disclosed his divinity to a greater degree which, for the moment, he did not want to do. And so he concealed it.… The things that Christ did in a human way were done, in other words, not only to establish the fact of his incarnation, but also to educate us on how to be virtuous. For if he had done everything as God, how would we know what to do when things happened to us that we didn’t want to have happen?” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Jesus carefully managed His earthly sojourn. He knew what He had to do, and what had to be done to Him. And He knew when. The Feast of Tabernacles was a right time for Him to do His work, but not a right time for Him to be killed. Why is it important for us to know that Christ is the Lord of time?

Closing Prayer
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 34.1-8

Psalm 34.1-9, 3 (Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
I will bless the Lord at all times; I shall praise Him evermore!
My soul makes its boast in Jesus – Him we gladly all adore!
    Magnify the Name of Jesus!
    Let us lift His Name in praise!

When I sought the Lord, He answered, and from fear delivered me.
Those who look to Him are radiant; shamed their face shall never be.
    Magnify the Name of Jesus!
    Let us lift His Name in praise!

When I cried to God, He heard me, and from trouble rescued me.
‘Round their camp His angel lingers that they may delivered be.
    Magnify the Name of Jesus!
    Let us lift His Name in praise!

Taste and see how good is Jesus; blessed are all who in Him hide.
None shall lack for any blessing who in Christ will e’er confide.
    Magnify the Name of Jesus!
    Let us lift His Name in praise!

T. M. Moore

Jesus is the Centerpiece of all Scripture, as He Himself explained (Jn. 5.39). But how can we learn to see Him there? How do the primary themes of Scripture revolve around Jesus? Our online course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, shows you how best to get at, get into, and get with the Word of God, so that you can grow more consistently in the Lord. It’s free, and you can study at your own pace. For more information or to register, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.