John - Week 22

You Cannot Follow 

READ 

John 7:35-36 

35 The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?” 

The comments of Jesus mystified even the Jewish leaders. All they could do in their confusion was to repeat the comments Jesus had made and turn them into questions. It would have been one thing to think that Jesus might teach other Jews, but it was a heretical thought to these leaders that He might even teach the Greeks, or Gentiles. And what could He have possibly meant that they would not be able to find Him or even go where He was going?  

REFLECT 

In witnessing to others, have you found them just as confused about spiritual matters as these Jewish leaders were about what Jesus said. Give an example. 

RESPOND 

Even though you cannot prevent others from becoming confused with spiritual truths, pray that you will be able to make things as clear as possible. Then rely on the Holy Spirit to help the people to whom you witness to have open hearts to understand.  

Rivers of Living Water 

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John 7:37-39 

37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) 

Especially notice that Jesus emphasized that anyone may come to Him. There is no truth in thinking that some are prevented from coming to Him. The Gospel writer John inserted what Jesus meant by the “living water” to which He referred. John also commented about the Holy Spirit not being given to every believer because Jesus had not yet been glorified. 

REFLECT 

Consider that every person you meet today could come to Jesus if the individual chose to do so. And think what it would be like to have rivers of living water flow from their hearts. 

RESPOND 

Read the first two chapters of the book of Acts. There you will read about Jesus entering into His glory and the Holy Spirit coming on the Day of Pentecost.  

A Divided Crowd 

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John 7:40-44 

40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” 43 So the crowd was divided about him. 44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. 

The truth about Jesus was getting through to the hearts of some who now believed He was the Prophet they had been expecting. But others were confused over His geographical place of birth. Although He was living in Galilee, some seemed not to know that He was born in Bethlehem. The unbelieving group was so antagonistic to Him they wanted Him arrested. But God’s time had not come for that. 

REFLECT 

Think about the confusion that now comes to those who don’t know or believe what eyewitnesses have written in the Bible. Although calling themselves “Christian,” they are only notional ones. They have imaginary beliefs about the Bible because they have not taken it seriously enough to learn what it says. 

RESPOND 

Because of the confusion about where Jesus was born, reread the prophecy in Micah 5:2 and the fulfillment in Luke 2:1-7. 

Confidently Wrong 

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John 7:45-49 

45 When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 46 “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded. 47 “Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. 48 “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? 49 This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!” 

The Temple guards were wiser than the educated leading priests and Pharisees. Typical sometimes of elite leaders, they thought they were much wiser than the masses. These leaders were as unwise as Peter earlier who claimed something to be true for all their group not realizing there were exceptions.  

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been misled by thinking some leaders have spoken truth when finding out later they did not? Give an example. 

RESPOND 

Return to John 6:66-71 and reread what Peter said when he claimed all of them believed in Jesus. In the next post it will be learned that not all of the leaders refused to believe in Jesus. 

Nicodemus Speaks 

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John 7:50-53 

50 Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked. 

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!” 53 [Everyone went to his home.] 

Here he does not declare his faith in Jesus, but Nicodemus asks a serious question in seeking to counter the antagonism. John 3 tells of Nicodemus meeting Jesus during the nighttime. John 19, which tells of the crucifixion of Jesus, also tells a part Nicodemus had afterwards. Again the leaders were so confused about Jesus they thought anyone who lived in Galilee could not possibly be the Messiah. They could not connect the dots that anyone born in Bethlehem and had grown up in Galilee could be the Messiah. 

REFLECT 

Do you see what can occur if someone does not know all the facts, or how they relate to each other? Give an example of how your knowledge of the Bible has grown as you have a better understanding of how some things relate to each other. 

RESPOND 

Read John 19 to have your memory refreshed about the crucifixion of Jesus. Then notice what Nicodemus did afterwards. Then ask yourself, when tough times come for believers, will those known for speaking out be heard from or will some come forward that no one knew were Christ-followers?