Jesus Invites Anyone who Thirsts to Come and Drink

John 7:35–39 (NKJV)

³⁵ Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

Christ Reveals the “Living Water”

³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Message

See v35-36.

³⁵ Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

They misunderstood what Jesus said in John 7:33-34. Jesus was going back to the Father but they wondered whether He would go to teach the Greeks.

I. He who Believes in Jesus gets the Living Water (37)

See v37.

³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

The last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34) was the great day of the feast. This feast was one of three great yearly feasts. It lasted for eight days. The 1^st and the last days were the most solemn. The Lord commanded to keep the feast for them to remember their dwelling in tents during their passage through the wilderness. [1]

On that great day, Jesus stood and cried out,

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (37)

II. Rivers of Living Water will Flow out of his Heart (38-39)

See v38.

³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus introduced ‘living water’ to a Samaritan woman in John 4:10, 13, 14 and again here. Jesus invites ‘anyone who thirsts’ to come to Him and drink. ‘he who believes in Jesus’ gets the living water. This water flows out of his heart.

See v39.

³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This water is the Holy Spirit, given to those who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit was to come after His glorification, that is, after His death and resurrection.

Without Jesus, people are spiritually dead. Their souls thirst and are dried and dead. They have no love, no compassion, no understanding – no ability to love either God or neighbour. They need living water from Jesus to revive. After believing in Him, they love God – thank Him, praise Him, worship Him, listen to Him, talk to Him… And they love their neighbours – pray for them, listen to them, talk to them, share the Good News with them, invite them to the church… A millionaire may not give anything, but the believers of Jesus start to give. This proves that they became richer than the millionaires.

References

[1] Alexander Cruden, A.M. Cruden’s Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testaments. Zondervan Publishing House. P654.

Boldness in His time, Gracious Speech, and His Origin and Mission from God

John 7:25–30 (NKJV)

Christ’s Origin from the Father

²⁵ Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? ²⁶ But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? ²⁷ However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”

²⁸ Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. ²⁹ But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

³⁰ Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

Message

I. Boldness in His Time (25, 26)

See v25.

²⁵ Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill?

This verse supports the fact that Jesus was in danger indeed. John 7:1 says the Jews sought to kill Him. John 7:11 shows the Jews sought Him. The people complained concerning Him (John 7:12) and were angry with Him (John 7:20, 23). The world hates Him (John 7:7). They couldn’t speak openly for fear of the Jews (John 7:13).

See v26.

²⁶ But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?

Jesus spoke boldly (26^a). They said nothing to Him (26^b) as if they had not sought (to kill) Him (John 7:1, 11).  Jesus was waiting for ‘His time’ (John 7:6, 8). Based on John 7:14, ‘His time’ came about in the middle of the feast. When it came, He spoke boldly (26^a). They marveled at His work (or speech) (John 7:15) and they (or the Jewish leaders) said nothing to Him. The people wondered whether the rulers knew indeed that Jesus was the Christ (26^c). This shows that ‘His time’ to show up came and ‘His hour’ for the sacrifice had not yet come (30).

II. His Gracious Way of Speech (27, 28^a)

See v27.

²⁷ However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”

They knew His earthly parents (27^a). They thought no one would know the origin of Jesus if He were the Christ (27).

See v28^a.

^28a Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from;

Jesus knew their thoughts. Jesus didn’t say that they didn’t know His real origin such as His mother’s conception by the Holy Spirit. Instead, Jesus acknowledged that they both knew Him and where He was from (28^a). This is just as He acknowledged (John 4:17^b) the answer of the Samaritan woman who said, ‘I have no husband’ (John 4:17^a). See John 4:17^b-18.

^17b Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

We learn this gracious way of speech to maintain a good relationship with the other person so that we may continue to help him/her.

III. Recognising God’s Presence, who is the Origin and gave the Mission (28^b,c,d, 29, 30)

^28b and I have not come of Myself, ^28c but He who sent Me is true, ^28d whom you do not know.
^29a But I know Him, ^29b for I am from Him, ^29c and He sent Me.”

What they should realise is that the invisible God who sent Him was with Him at the very present (28^b). God who sent Him to them is real, trustworthy and truthful (28^c). Jesus pointed out that yet they did not know or acknowledge God (28^d). Differently to them, Jesus knew God (29^a) because

• Jesus was from God (29^b): Jesus was conceived in the Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit without a human male. His biological Father was God. Jesus is the Word who became flesh (John 1:14^a). The Word existed from the eternal past (John 1:1^a), and was together and intimate with God (John 1:1^b). The Word is God (John 1:1^c) and the Creator (John 1:3). The Word is the only Son of God and has the closest relationship with God (John 1:18^b).
• God sent Jesus (29^c).: God so loved the world that He sent His only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus had the mission to save the world (Matthew 1:21, John 4:42, Acts 4:12). Jesus served them by teaching, healing, and becoming a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:44).

When a person is spiritually reborn, he/she becomes a new creation and a child of God. Then he/she becomes more like Jesus and can tell that he/she is ‘from God’ (29^b). If God gives him/her a mission to do, he/she can say ‘God sent him/her.’ But the people may not see the rebirth or the emission revealed in him/her. V28~29 are what he/she could say to them.

See v30.

³⁰ Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

‘His hour had not yet come’ is why no one laid a hand on Him despite their murderous intent (John 7:1, 25).

The Doctrine of Jesus that Glorifies God and Their Wrong Judgment

John 7:15-24 [1] 

15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” 

16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” 

20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” 

21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” 

Message

I. The doctrine that glorifies God (15-21)

See v15.

15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

Jesus taught them (John 7:14^c) without having never studied (15^c). This made the Jews ‘marveled’ (15^a). What is the response of Jesus? See v16.

16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.  

The doctrine of Jesus is not from His own authority but from God who sent Him.  

See v17. 

17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.  

This fact (16) can be verified if anyone wills to do His will. 

See v18. 

18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.  

Jesus does not seek His own glory but the glory of the One who sent Him. He is true and righteous. When we will to do the will of God who sent Jesus, God will be glorified. Therefore, we shall know that His doctrine is from God.  

See v19. 

19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” 

The 6^th commandment is ‘You shall not murder.’ (Exodus 20:13). But the Jewish leaders tried to murder Jesus (John 5:16, 18, 7:11, 25). 

See v20. 

20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” 

The people denied the fact that they were seeking to kill Him, by saying, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” This expression shows their ‘anger’ (20, 23). ‘anger’ is also ‘murder’ according to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22. 

See v21. 

21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel.  

They all marveled at His work. Jesus was glorifying God indeed. However, they were angry at Him also (23).  
How can they marveled at His work and be angry at Him who glorifies God? What’s wrong with their judgment?

II. Judging with righteous judgement (22-24)

22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 

Since God commanded Abraham to do circumcision before the law was given, the Jews circumcise every male child on the 8^th day after birth. The circumcision day could fall on the Sabbath day.  

See v23. 

23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 

They worked (circumcised) on the Sabbath. The circumcision was the rule given by God before the law of Moses ever existed. How can they be angry with Jesus for doing God’s will to heal them on the Sabbath? 

See v24. 

24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” 

Jesus taught them to judge

• not according to appearance 
• but with righteous judgment. 

This tells us 

• not to be superficial 
• but to be detailed, genuine and thorough 

to make the righteous judgment.  

Their judgment was indeed superficial and unjust! Also, they shouldn't simply rely on what the Jewish leaders said about Jesus’ works performed on the Sabbath. They were unrighteous to make apparent judgment.  

References  

1. The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Wisdom to Wait for the Right Time

John 7:1-14 [1]

Christ’s Brothers Do Not Believe

7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. ² Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. ³ His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. ⁸ You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” ⁹ When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

Christ Secretly Goes to the Feast

¹⁰ But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to 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 complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” ¹³ However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

¹⁴ Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

(Message)

Jesus faced the hatred of the world He came to save and the unbelief of His own brothers. God stood on His side to provide Him the right time to make the next steps.

I. Unbelief of Christ’s Own Brothers

See v1.

¹ After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.

The fact the Jews sought to kill Jesus (1^b) shows they belonged to the darkness and so hated Him without a reason (Psalm 69:4, John 15:25. See John 15:18-24). Their degree of hatred toward Him shows how much they opposed God and His will (See John 3:19, 20).

See v2-4.

² Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. ³ His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

His brothers asked Him to go into Judea because they thought Jesus was seeking to be known openly. But their suggestion was not good or wise for Him and not from God.

See v5.

⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

Even His own brothers didn’t believe Him. This didn’t make Jesus alone because His Father was with Him. We have to know there can be times when even our own brothers do not believe what we claim. But God is on our side to help us walk through such a situation.

See v6-7.

⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

His time has not yet come (6^a). due to the hatred of the world (7^b). The world hates Jesus because He testifies of it that its works are evil (7^b). When one does not stand for the truth, the world may seem in peace with him/her. But when one does the will of God, one faces the disturbance because the devil opposes fiercely the fulfillment of God’s will.

See v8.

⁸ You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”

Jesus was waiting for the right time before taking His next steps (moves) in the midst of the fierce spiritual war between good and evil.

II. Christ Secretly Goes to the Feast in God’s Time

See v9-14.

⁹ When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

¹⁰ But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to 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 complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” ¹³ However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

¹⁴ Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

We learn the wisdom not simply following others but waiting for the opportunity, that God will open up, that we may call ‘the right time’. Jesus remained in Galilee (9^b) until the right time (midway through the festival (14)) came for Him to go to Judea in the right way (secretly) (10, 14).

References

1. The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.