October 7, 2002
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Oct. 20
Jesus deepens his discourse on living water
___John 7
___By Robert Creech
___University Baptist Church-Clearlake, Houston
___John presents Jesus' miracles in terms of seven "signs." Likewise, Jesus' teachings occur in seven distinct discourses (3:1-36; 4:1-42; 5:19-47; 6:22-66; 7:1-52; 8:12-59; 10:1-42). The fifth discourse takes place in Jerusalem, during the Feast of Tabernacles (Exodus 23:16-17). The narrator specifically mentions this setting (John 7:2), pointing the reader to a deeper understanding of Jesus' words.
___Tabernacles celebrated the wilderness period in Israel's history. As God's people made their way through the desert, he provided them with three crucial gifts--bread (manna), water and light. According to John 6, 7 and 8, Jesus is the reality behind each of those divine provisions.
___While in Jerusalem, Jesus confronts the arguments, accusations and threats of his opponents. John seeks to persuade the reader that "Jesus is the Christ" (20:31). In these discourses, we have opportunity to examine the opinions of those who think otherwise and to hear those arguments answered.
___Jesus first faces opposition from his own brothers (7:3-4). They challenge him to take his miracle show on the road to Jerusalem during the feast. There, they suggest, he could make quite an impact. Lest we fail to see the disingenuous nature of their suggestion, the narrator steps in to inform us of their unbelief (7:5).
___Jesus' words to his brothers echo the response he offered his mother at Cana: "The right time for me has not yet come" (7:6, compare with 2:4). As at Cana, Jesus resists pressure from his earthly family.
___In response to his heavenly Father's leadership, however, he later attends the feast (7:6, 8-10). Until his appointed time arrives, Jesus remains untouchable, despite repeated attempts to arrest or attack him (7:1, 19-20, 25, 30, 32, 44).
___Even before his arrival, Jesus is the source of conflict and division in Jerusalem (7:43). Some consider Jesus a good man, but others think him a deceiver (7:12). His miracles persuade some to accept him as the Christ (7:31, 41). Others think him to be "the Prophet" (7:40; Deuteronomy 18:15-19). Many others simply remain skeptical (7:41-42).
___Jesus' opponents raise several issues regarding his role as Christ. They raise the issue of the source of Jesus' knowledge, since he has had no formal training (7:15). Jesus' response is that his teaching comes directly from God (7:16,18), which obedience will verify (7:17).
___Opponents claim to know where Jesus is from (7:27, 41, 52), although one who has read the prologue (1:1-18) knows they are mistaken.
___Even though John does not narrate the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, an ironic statement by some of his opponents alludes to it (7:42). They assume Jesus is from Galilee (7:41, 52), and therefore can be neither the Christ nor a prophet.
___The pharisees, who majored in the study of the law, could have used a lesson from the prophets as well. They might have recalled that Galilee produced at least one prophet, Nahum the Elkoshite (Nahum 1:1). The careful reader is aware, however, that the physical origin of Jesus is not the issue. He is the Logos who has become flesh and who is "tabernacling" among us (1:14).
___Jesus' opponents take up accusations of his Sabbath violation narrated in Chapter 5 (7:19-25). Jesus argues that even they fail to keep the Sabbath law completely, since they perform circumcision on that day (7:7:19, 22-23).
___The climax of this discourse coincides with the climax of the Feast of Tabernacles (7:37). In a beautiful and elaborate ceremony, Israel remembered God's provision of life-giving water. They anticipated the arrival of rains assuring life for the year to come. The priest carried water taken from the pool of Siloam and poured it into a basin on the altar. At that very moment, Jesus stands and cries out: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink" (7:37-38).
___The narrator interprets for us--Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit whom God would pour out on those who place their faith in him (7:39). This is the living water, offered to the thirsty woman in 4:14. This is the thirst-quenching experience Jesus described in 6:34, 54-55. Jesus promises that God's own life within the believer would become an inner, living, spring flowing out to others as well.
___Although Jesus says, "as the Scripture has said," he quotes no single Old Testament pericope. Perhaps he had in mind such passages as Isaiah 44:3; 55:1; 58:11; Ezekiel 47:1; Joel 3:18; Zechariah 13:1; or 14:8.
___Jesus later will say much more concerning the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Here John presents the Spirit as the very presence of God supplying life to the one who places trust in the Son.
___As the discourse closes, Nicodemus makes his first foray into the light since his nighttime conversation with Jesus (3:1-15). He insists his fellow Pharisees give Jesus a lawful hearing, but their ignorant preconceptions quickly silence his pleas.
___Questions for discussion
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