John 7:1 "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him."

(Matthew 10:23 ). Jesus did not expose Himself to premature risk, but gave Himself as a lamb for the slaughter when His hour was come. The Jews, John's word for the Judean religious leaders, were hostile, whereas the Galilean ones were indifferent.

Jesus was advised by His brothers to leave for the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34-36, 39-44 ) where He could do signs, and present His claims to be the Christ. They presumed He was seeking fame, and encouraged Him to show Himself openly.

John 7:4 "... If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."

Galilee was an obscure corner of the land - go to the religious centre - was their reasoning. They did not understand Him or His mission. They had spent their whole lives with Him and His glory was hidden to them, and their carnal minds were unchanged (John 7:5 ). The time would come when they would understand and worship and serve Him. Do you have unbelieving loved ones? Jesus did. They eventually came to faith. Don't doubt, so can yours.

Jesus did not ignore, but answered His brothers though they had darkened understanding (John 7:6-8 ). He informed them His time was not yet come, knowing when He did manifest Himself it would end in the death of the cross. He told them their time to go was always ready - there was no conflict between them and the world that hated Him (John 7:6-7 ).

He would not go up with them or as the Messiah entering Jerusalem. This was not the time (John 7:8 ). He urged His brethren to go in obedience, to the feast. We should always appeal to our as yet not saved loved ones, to be present where God can speak to them. Christ Jesus intended to go to the feast, but not in public caravan as was the custom. He left Galilee in a more private manner after His brothers had left, so avoiding the crowds (John 7:9-10 ).

The crowd with favourable and unfavourable opinions (John 7:11-12 ). Dominating leadership that lords it over the people always breeds fear among them (John 7:13 ).

John 7:15 "... How does this Man know letters, having never studied?"

Religious opposing leaders give more credit to formal training, than gifting and appointing from God.

This is factually expressed in the Lord's justification of His doctrine.

John 7:16 "Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me."

His doctrine originated in the Father, not some human school. Jesus was the Father's messenger. We should teach all that God has spoken in His Word and His Son.

The one whose will is in harmony and action with the divine will can recognise doctrine that is God's (John 7:17 ). Such have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5 ).

	The true teacher seeks the glory of God - the false teacher his own exaltation and praise (John 7:18 ). (See 2 Corinthians 4:5 for an example of a New Testament true teacher).
	The teacher of truth is a doer of the Word.

John 7:19 "Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"

They claimed to be schooled in the law, yet failed to live it out, and sought by their teaching to make it of none effect. More, they hated Jesus and wanted to kill Him because He faithfully proclaimed and lived the truth. Don't return evil for evil or reviling for reviling (1 Peter 3:9 ). Under this kind of provocation, remember and follow the example of Jesus (John 7:20 ). He ignored this blasphemous word from the crowd (1 Peter 2:22-23 ).

The authorities had condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath (John 5:1-9 ). He now justified His conduct. Circumcision was allowed (Leviticus 12:3 ) should the eighth day be the Sabbath. So works of necessity and mercy are permitted on the Sabbath. What was said by the Master in summary needs to be practiced by us:

John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

The Lord responds to their wrong ideas by saying they knew Him as a man, but did not recognise his divine nature nor His mission (John 7:28-29 ). To be ignorant concerning the Son, is to be ignorant of the Father also. "Whom you do not know." (John 7:28 NKJV).

At this time all that the unbelieving authorities could do was plot against His life,

John 7:30 "... because his hour was not yet come."

All without faith in Him will die in their sins, and so will not be able to go to be with Christ Jesus in heaven (John 7:33-34 ).

An invitation to the thirsty,

John 7:37 "... If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."

	"Thirsty" describes those who are to come.
	"Come" with your heart and will, to Jesus, as you would come with your feet if He were physically present.
	"Drink", actively receive the Holy Spirit. Our co-operation required.

John 7:38 "He that believeth on me, ..."

"Believes" - the flow of the Spirit is continuous and uninterrupted through actively believing in Jesus, and in yielding co-operation with the Holy Spirit His gifts are in operation.

Continuous overflowing, out of his heart (not head) will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38 ). Continuance in active believing results in copious overflow of spiritual gifts, out of the mouth, from the human spirit, will flow the wisdom of the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 18:4; 10:11 ).

The rivers of living water are described in scripture as making the recipients like well watered gardens that produce abundantly. The Lord Jesus insisted that the Holy Spirit fulness would be, "... as the Scripture hath said, ..." (John 7:38 KJV). Here are a few of the references: Isaiah 58:11; Jeremiah 31:12;

Song of Solomon 4:15 "A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And streams from Lebanon."

Without Holy Spirit fulness garden of our lives can be very dry and barren indeed. For the disciples there personal Pentecost still awaited fulfilment. What Jesus said pointed to that fulfilment, that is why we are given the explanation:

John 7:39 "(... was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

Jesus is now glorified. All was spoken that each believer might know how to receive a personal Pentecost (Acts 2:4 ).

John 7:45,46 "Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, 'Why have you not brought Him?' ⁴⁶ The officers answered, 'No man ever spoke like this Man!'"

Those not willing to accept the truth call it deception, while remaining ignorant of the deception that blinds them (John 7:47-49 ). "Are you also deceived?" (John 7:47 NKJV). When assumptions are being put forward as fact, endangering another, a right question can be preventative (John 7:50-53 ).

John 7:51 "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?"

Nicodemus, though known to be cautious, proved effective.

John 7:53 "And everyone went to his own house."

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Should messengers of Christ in dangerous places put themselves to unnecessary risk? (John 7:1 ).
2. Do you follow the example of Jesus in your responses to your unbelieving relatives? (John 7:2-5 ).
3. Do you think that religious, opposing leaders give more credit to formal training than gifting and appointment from God? (John 7:15 ).
4. How would you instruct someone in how to receive Holy Spirit fullness? (John 7:37-39 ).