John 7
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
The Doctrine of Jesus Christ: Jesus’ own siblings didn’t yet believe that He was the Christ; they were being quite sarcastic with Him here. They probably thought of Him here as did the brothers of Joseph did back in Genesis. I guess that His brethren did not understand that the Jews sought to kill Him…or did they?…. There were 2 main reasons (as I see it) that Jesus tried to (in general) keep a low profile: 1) because the Jews sought to kill Him; and 2) in order not to become too famous too fast, where it might be more difficult for the Jews to be able to have Him crucified when the time came.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? 12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. 13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
The Doctrine of Jesus Christ: The world would (and did) hate Jesus because He testified of it that its works were evil. When the world thinks well of Christians, that is an anomoly; something is wrong; it most likely is because the Christians are going along with it and not testifying of the worlds wickedness. Jesus is our example; thus, we are to testify that the world’s works are evil. ‘His time’ was in fulfillment of prophecy; leading up to when He would be put to death by the Jews in Jerusalem. There are two main views of Jesus in the world today: 1) He is a good man; 2) He is a deceiver.
14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
The Doctrine of Jesus Christ: “The Jewish letters or science consisted in the knowledge of their Scriptures and traditions. Jesus exhibited in his discourses such a profound acquaintance with the Old Testament as to excite their amazement and admiration.” (Barnes’ Notes) What Jesus was teaching (doctrine) was not His, but His who sent Him, i.e. the Father’s. Jesus didn’t speak of Himself, but rather of His Father; Jesus didn’t seek His own glory, but rather His Father’s.
The Doctrine of Truth: How does one eventually come to the truth and know of the doctrine? By doing God’s will. It will be a natural course; as one consistently follows the clear, general will of God as shown in the scriptures, they shall know of the doctrine. Thus, those that believe false doctrine are, to some degree, not following God’s will in their lives.
19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? 20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
The Doctrine of the Law: Jesus told those self-righteous Jewish leaders that none of them kept the law. They were wanting to kill Jesus because they said that He had broken the law (by ‘working’ on the Sabbath). They circumcised on the Sabbath; that surely involves a ‘work’. How is healing someone more of a work than that?… Later Jesus taught that it was right to do good on the Sabbath. Can we Christians today do ‘work’ on the Lord’s Day? Well, surely it is ok to do ‘good’ on it. But, good does not mean watching 3 hours of football, or shopping at the mall, or mowing the lawn…
The Doctrine of Judgment: It is paramount to judge things ‘not’ by their appearance; otherwise it very well may not be ‘righteous’ judgment. So many are so quick to judge within 10 seconds of hearing about it or seeing it.
25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? 26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? 27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. 28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. 30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? 32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. 33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. 34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. 35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? 36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
The Doctrine of Jesus Christ: Even though many were out to kill Jesus, He still spoke boldly; this may have caused them to be intimidated, so they said nothing to Him.
‘No man knoweth whence he is’ – “From Matt 2:5, it appears that the common expectation of the Jews was that the Messiah would be born at Bethlehem; but they had also feigned that after his birth he would be hidden or taken away in some mysterious manner, and appear again from some unexpected quarter. We find allusions to this [in Mt 24:23].” (Barnes’ Notes)
Jesus stated plainly that He came from and was sent from God the Father.
Nothing could happen to Jesus Christ without it being in agreement with the prophecy concerning Him.
The Doctrine of Miracles: Jesus’ miracles caused many to believe in Him; apparently He did many, many miracles, so much so that the people were amazed.
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
The Doctrine of the Holy Ghost: The Spirit of God is likened unto rivers of living water flowing out of one’s belly. He will bring spiritual refreshment and life in abundance to the soul’s of those that believe on Jesus. The Holy Ghost would not yet be given to indwell the saints (receive) until Jesus was glorified (His ascencion to Heaven).
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? 43 So there was a division among the people because of him. 44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
The Doctrine of Jesus Christ: The Prophet refers to the One prophesied by Moses that would come. The Prophet and the Christ are one in the same, but many of the people didn’t understand that. The common teaching was the Jesus was born in Nazareth of Galilee; apparently, Jesus never corrected them on this.
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. 50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? 52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. 53 And every man went unto his own house.
The Doctrine of Jesus Christ: The officers said ‘never man spake like this man’; what were they meaning by this? Was it His grace? Was it His bold rebukes of the religious leaders? Was it the powerful truth that He spoke? Yes.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee that had believed on Jesus; he attempted to help protect Jesus from being murdered by his fellow Pharisees. Those Jews were well aquainted with Micah 5:2 and other prophesies concerning the Messiah; they knew what to look for. And, I believe, that they probably had heard that He had been born in Bethlehem; so, they tried to hide that and instead teach that He was from Galilee.