Fri.8.28.15...Oh Brothers!...John 7:1-14

Did you grow up with brothers and sisters? How did they treat you? My older sister and younger sister were always kind and encouraging to me. But as a kid, my older brother teased me a lot. I know others who have had it a whole lot worse, so I'm not asking for sympathy. I'm simply wanting us to enter into the pain Jesus must have felt when his own (half) brothers didn't believe in him. This comes out in our passage today, John 7:1-14. Yet his brothers had been with him earlier when he turned the water into wine (2:11-12). And they certainly heard of, if not saw, other miracles he was doing (7:3). How could they not believe, having grown up with such a good and godly brother? Ugh! (Fortunately, after his resurrection, we know for sure that at least two of his half brothers, James and Jude, became devoted believers. They even wrote two NT books, bearing their names.)

To set the stage for our story in 7:1-14, John tells us in 7:1, that Jesus was ministering in the region of Galilee where he grew up. Galilee is seen in the upper quarter of the map below. Find that now, please. Jesus' brothers tell him he ought to go to the Feast of Tabernacles which was held in Jerusalem in the region of Judea. Those locations are about a third up from the bottom of the map. Find those on the map too. That was about an 80 mile walk between Galilee and Jerusalem. 

John even gives us the time of year this story happened, during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sept.). This was a week long religious celebration, commemorating when God delivered the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and when they lived in tents (tabernacles) in the wilderness. Thus, they were to live in tents during that week. (Let's go camping!:) 

Interestingly, we are only a third of the way through the book, yet of the three and a half years of Jesus' ministry, John has already fast-forwarded us to the soon ending of Jesus' life concluding in Jerusalem. From this Feast of Tabernacles (Sept.), to the Passover (April), when Jesus is crucified, is only a period of about 7 months. Jesus will now stay in Jerusalem or its vicinity to the very end. Tension will continue to build in John's amazingly laid out story. 

It's helpful to remember what happened the last time Jesus was in Jerusalem (in John 5). He healed the invalid by the pool on the Sabbath, and claimed the right to do so as the Son of God (God the Son). For this "blasphemy" the Jewish authorities wanted to kill him (5:17-18). Remember in ch.1-4, we saw the presentation of the Son of God and how people were largely positive to Jesus as his ministry began. But since ch.5 and on through chapter 12, we will see the hostile opposition to the Son of God. Picture a hill ^. Chapters 1-5 presents Jesus going up in popularity, but ch.6-12 presents Jesus going downhill due to increasing opposition.

As we've said, it must have been painful to Jesus to have his own half brothers, not put their faith in him. But some think that Jesus deceived his brothers, then rethought his plans and followed their advice, going up to Jerusalem in secret for fear of the Jews. They are wrong on all counts.

Note the debate among the crowds as to who Jesus is. We will see more of such references right up to the end of his public appearances in ch.12. It's as if John wants his readers to decide who is right or wrong about Jesus. You will also note that John refers to "the Jews" three times in this short passage. Some wanted him dead, others thought he was a good man and were amazed at his teaching. The context (the surrounding words) of a word determines its meaning. 

1.- Read through John 7:1-15 and write down one or more questions you have about the passage.

2.- Now use the link below to the David Guzik commentary on John 7 to see if you can find an answer to your question and share it with us. If not, share one other insight you gleaned.
http://ift.tt/1NLabBW

Thanks for faithfully putting up your points on the board. I'll be working on your totals over the weekend. I look forward to honoring many of you in a new way on Monday. 

Wanna go for a walk? If you're free to join me tomorrow morning, we'll shove off from my house (9541 S. Oakley Ave, Chicago) at 8:00 for 50-60 minutes. Text me if you're coming. Thanks!