John 7 - Does Your Life Make People Curious About Jesus?

John 7 - NIV

John 7 - Enduring Word Commentary

Verses of the Day - John 7:14-18

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 

Commentary

You may not be familiar with the Feast of Tabernacles, so here are some facts about it. 

1. It was a seven day feast, celebrated 5 days after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) in the Fall.

2. The tabernacles were symbol of the the booths God provided for the Israelites to live in the wilderness and being delivered from the Egyptians. The tabernacle was also the place where the Israelites worshipped God, instead of the temple. The Lord's presence was manifest in the tabernacle as it move in the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night and also guided where they were to go next. 

3. It is one of three annual pilgrimmages where Jewish people were commanded to go to Jerusalem. (The other two are Yom Kippur and Pentecost aka Shavout)

4. It was also a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the Fall Harvest, which was also a sign of God's provision. 

5. On the final and greatest day, the priest took a pitcher of water from the Pool of Siloam and poured it out over the altar as a sign of the Holy Spirit. This living water was also looked forward to future Messianic times. 

Since this was a major time where all the Jewish people from all over the world assembled, his brothers wanted him to go the festival and make an appearance. It would be the perfect time to show everyone the works that he can do. But, Jesus answers them, "My time has not yet come. For you anytime will do!"

Jesus knew that going to the Feast and doing a bunch of miracles would only speed up the timeline to his crucifixion. Later Jesus went to the Festival in secret and halfway through the festival he went to teach in the temple. They were amazed at his teaching and wondered where he got his learning. Jesus revealed that He only taught what was given to him by the one who sent him. I.e. God the Father

Jesus is providing the skeptics with a way to verify his claims. One commentator says, 

"The central principle is that if a person truly desires to do God’s will, they will receive the insight needed to recognize that Jesus' message is divine. Conversely, those who are unwilling to obey God will find His truth "hidden" or confusing." 

Jesus says something important. If anyone does God's will they will know His teaching is from God. He is basically saying, "Test me to see if what I am teaching is not of God". I.e. The proof is in the pudding. I think it is important because it shows us when anyone puts into practice what Jesus is teaching. they will know and experience the will of God. Jesus says, "Anyone who chooses to do the will of God". 

Someone may know about God but never choose to do His will. Jesus is confronting the Pharisees because they know the will of God through the Law of Moses, yet they don't obey it. And yet, they want to kill him because He is teaching the will of God! - John Piper

Application

1. Have you experienced Jesus' truth more when reading about and studying his life? Or by doing the things he said to do? 

2. How do you think this effects the way we look at "evangelism"? I.e. Sometimes evangelism is about telling people why they need to believe in Jesus rather than showing them what following Jesus looks like. Does your life make people curious about Jesus? 

Dear Jesus, we thank you that you have taught us the truth about God's will for us. Most importantly the will of the Father is for us to believe that you are His Son. You have given us a tabernacle to dwell which is with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! As we abide in you, you promise to abide in us! Amen. 

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