John 7

Before you open your bible, take some time to quiet yourself and pray:
Lord, open my heart to hear your word, let me know You more tonight than I did before.  Amen.


read John 7.1-5

JUST SO YOU KNOW: Tabernacles, or The Festival of Booths (Leviticus 23.33ff) was a feast like our Thanksgiving, only more exciting because everyone camped together for 8 days in tents (or booths).  God gave the Jewish people this festival so they would remember how he led them with Moses through the desert.  During the week, they would remember different parts of their journey and thank God for leading them through.


YourStory: Is there something in your life you are thankful that God brought you through?  Take just a minute to thank Him as you're reading: ________________________________.




read John 7.6-9


question: Here we see Jesus' brothers trying to convince him to go with them to the festival.  They don't get why he doesn't want to go and show the people who He is.  What answer does He give them for not going to Judea? ____________________.
There is another reason Jesus isn't ready to go to Judea in 7.1, what is it? _____________________.




read John 7.10-13
question: Jesus decides to go up to the festival separate from the group, when he gets there people are talking about him-- what are they saying about Jesus? (HINT V.11-12) ______________________________________________________________.




read John 7.14-18
JUST SO YOU KNOW: Tabernacles lasted 8 days, from one Sabbath to the next Sabbath.  A few days into the festival, Jesus lets loose and starts teaching, what does Jesus say about his own teaching? (HINT v.16) _______________________________________________________.


GO DEEPER: Read verse 18 again.  The Message version says it like this, "A person making things up tries to make himself look good.  But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with the truth."
QUESTION: What do you think God wants you to know about Jesus based on this passage? _________________________________________________________________.


Think about this: Jesus lived to give glory to God, He spoke truth.  Do we long to be like Jesus who gave God glory or do we seek to make ourselves look good?  Becoming a disciple is a process, so wherever you find yourself tonight, remember that Jesus wants to make you more like HIm, full of truth.


read John 7.19-20
JUST SO YOU KNOW: Tabernacles was all about remembering.  They camped to remember traveling through the desert, they lit candles to remember how God led them as a pillar of fire (Numbers 14.14). They also used water to remember water flowing from the rock (Exodus 17.1-7).  Here Jesus speaks about Moses' law, it's what the people were seeing and touching and remembering all week long.


read John 7.21-24
JUST SO YOU KNOW:  In this passage, Jesus is reminding them of the man he healed on the sabbath (John 5, "take up your mat and walk..." remember?) The Jewish leaders were upset about this miracle because Jesus healed the man on the sabbath.  So in this passage when Jesus talks about how they perform the ritual of circumcision on the sabbath, he is really pointing out how insane it is for them to criticize him for healing an entire person on the sabbath.  He is telling them that people are more valuable to God than ritual.  This is kind of intense.




read John 7.25-30
QUESTION: Why do you think Jesus' words in v28-29 set off the crowd and caused them to attack Jesus? _____________________________________________________.


read John 7.31-36
JUST SO YOU KNOW: Jesus has presented his purpose, He is trying to tell people what is going to happen in a very short time and also let them understand that time in general is very temporary.  Remember when Jesus said, "it's not time for me to go yet" ?  He is purposely following God's timing by asking God if it's time and being obedient to what God tells him in prayer.


"Lord, when?!" Is there anything in your life you need to take to God and ask Him about His timing?  Go in prayer: __________________________________________________________________________________.


read John 7.37-44
JUST SO YOU KNOW: Keep in mind, Jesus is still at the festival.  He is seeing the water and hearing the people remember God's signs and miracles and then he steps up and says, "if you're thirsty come to me and i'll fill you so full of the living water you've been craving that it will be like it's pouring out of you and refreshing everyone around you!  Believe in me!  That is what the Scriptures say!" (7.37-38).
Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit.  This is an awesome preview of what it is like to follow Jesus and let him lead you in His presence.  How has God's Holy Spirit filled you up? __________________________________________________.  How, if ever, have you seen this pour out into others? _________________________________________________.


What are some of the questions people have asked about what Jesus has said? (HINT v.40-44) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
What are some questions you have about what Jesus has just said? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.




read John 7.45-53


QUESTION: Why didn't the guards seize Jesus? (HINT v.45-46) _______________________________________________________________________.




Be Encouraged: There have been lots of people who've tried to go "seize Jesus." Many athiest scholars have tried to prove him wrong.  C.S.Lewis (author of Mere Christianity, and The Chronicles of Narnia) and Lee Strobel (author of The Case for Christ) are two examples of these kinds of attacks on Jesus' teaching.  The amazing thing about these two men is that when they approached God's word intending to tear it apart, they found no fault in Jesus and incredibly HE started to CHANGE their hearts and answer their doubts!!! He really is the TRUTH!  Jesus took their doubt and turned it into proof and encouragement for countless thousands of Christians worldwide!  How awesome!  So, if you struggle with doubt about God, take it to Him, He is big enough to handle your questions and He wants to lead you to the truth about himself.


FINALLY:
In John 7, we see Jesus get missional-- we see Him get serious about God's timing and God's purpose in His life.  He says to his brothers, "You can do what you want, I'm on God's time."  Through Jesus' faithfulness and obedience, God's love was revealed to mankind.  How can you become more obedient in your life?  In the book Jesus Calling, the author suggests learning to say, "I trust you, Jesus" in the midst of struggling to understand God's timing.  So in the middle of doubt or suffering, trusting God allows us to truly draw near to His presence and let God's Spirit show love through us to everyone around us.


LOVE.