This is another recorded instance of Jesus as a public teacher in the temple (with the earliest mention in John 2:13). Now was the time to proclaim the truth and offer hope for those who would accept his message. His teaching made an impact because the Jews were surprised at what he knew and how he taught. By timing this message with the festival, it may have given him a larger audience.
Jesus entered Jerusalem secretly, in the middle of the festival week, but then began teaching in the temple. Instead of publicly traveling to Jerusalem, Jesus went in secret because of threats against his life from the Jewish rulers (John 5:18).
Jesus replied that it was not yet his time, but they were free to go to the feast if they desired. His teachings were so revolutionary that even his own kindred scoffed at him, suggesting that he go to Jerusalem and prove his messiahship to the world. Jesus had already performed miracles and taught things that provoked the scribes and Pharisees to threaten his life. Then, on the eighth day, a holy convocation was held, a special gathering for prayer and rejoicing (Leviticus 23:34, Deuteronomy 16:13-17, John 7:37). For seven days the people were to dwell in booths as temporary residences. Every Jewish man was required to observe the feast in Jerusalem as a remembrance of the forty years Israel wandered in the wilderness. The Feast of Tabernacles was held five days after the Day of Atonement, which pictures the ultimate atonement of all mankind. That small bit of information helps us understand that this was Jesus’ final celebration of this feast, as it was just six months before he was crucified. It is the only reference to this feast in the New Testament. Introduction (John 7:1-2)Įarly in the chapter, the Apostle John makes a specific point about the Feast of Tabernacles. The seventh chapter of John marks a transition point in the ministry of Jesus from being mostly tolerated, to having to risk his life to continue his ministry because of threats from the Jewish officials. “The officers answered, ‘Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks’” (John 7:46 NASB).īy Jeff Mezera Jesus’ Ministry of Waters of Life
By Herald Magazine on NovemJohn Chapter 7