AM April 19th John 7

April 19^th           John 7              The Lord’s Family

1: After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2: Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3: His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4: For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5: For neither did his brethren believe in him. 6: Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. 7: The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8: Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. 9: When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.

The Lord teaching in the Temple

10: But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11: Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? 12: And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. 13: Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews. 14: Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15: And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16: Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18: He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19: Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? 20: The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? 21: Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 22: Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23: If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24: Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

At this time the Jews were getting over zealous in their murderous intent so Christ moved his base to Galilee. However when the Feast of Tabernacles came around Christ as all Jews did needed to go to Jerusalem. His brothers chided him to go with them so that everyone would see his miracles, but he said, ‘not yet’. His brothers did not recognise him as the Messiah. Then Christ left for Galilee but without and public knowledge of his movements. There was a great deal of concern by the Jews to find Christ. The people were divided about him; some said he was a prophet but others that he was a deceiver. In the middle of the feast Christ entered into the Temple to teach the Word. The Jews were amazed at his knowledge of Hebrew because he had not been taught by them nor had he attended the ‘college’. Christ confessed that his knowledge was from God that sent him. He said that those who know God will know this to be true. Then he said Moses gave you the law yet none of you keep it. Then he questioned them about their evil motives. He said why are you plotting to murder me? He wasn’t asking because he didn’t know he was asking to shock them into thinking which might lead to repentance. The religious leaders said you have an evil Spirit who is seeking to kill you. Christ further challenged them, He said l have done one good work and you are all amazed and Why? because it was done on the Sabbath day. This is an example of their prejudice and Pharisaic thinking that assumed that healing on the Sabbath day was breaking the commandments. Then he said you circumcise a man on the Sabbath day so that the Mosaic law is not broken by having uncircumcised men in Israel, Yet l have made a man whole on the sabbath day. What’s the difference? Why are you angry? Then he said do not judge a matter according to a surface appearance but judge righteous judgment.