Rivers of Living Waters in John 7

Read John chapter 7

Introduction: In John 7, we see Jesus attending the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, where he faces criticism from the Jewish religious leaders and disbelief from the crowd. Despite the challenges, Jesus continues to teach and perform miracles, revealing his true identity as the Messiah. This chapter highlights the importance of seeking the truth and trusting in Jesus as the source of living water.

I. Jesus’ brothers do not believe in him (John 7:1-9)
Jesus’ brothers encourage him to go to the festival and show his miracles to the world, but Jesus knows it is not yet time for His death on the cross, and He also knows that the Jews seek to kill Him. He tells them to go ahead without him.

• Cross reference verses:
  • Matthew 13:57 – Jesus was not accepted in his hometown, which shows the disbelief of his brothers.
  • Mark 3:21 – Jesus’ family thought he was out of his mind, which shows their lack of faith in him.
  • Galatians 1:19 – James, the brother of Jesus, later becomes a believer and a leader in the church, showing that Jesus’ brothers eventually come to faith.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:23 – The message of the cross is foolishness to those who do not believe, which explains the disbelief of Jesus’ brothers.

II. Jesus teaches at the Festival of Tabernacles (John 7:10-24)
Jesus goes to the festival secretly and begins to teach in the temple courts. The Jewish leaders are amazed at his knowledge, but they question his authority and some say he has a demon. However they would speak out loud because they feared his great influence with the people.

• Cross reference verses:
  • Isaiah 55:1 – Jesus invites all who are thirsty to come to him, just as Isaiah invites all who are thirsty to come to the Lord.
  • Ezekiel 47:1-12 – The image of the river flowing from the temple, bringing life to everything it touches, parallels Jesus’ offer of living water.
  • Jeremiah 17:13 – Those who turn away from the Lord will be put to shame, just as the Jewish leaders are put to shame by Jesus’ teaching.
  • Exodus 20:12 – Jesus’ teaching to judge not by appearances but by right judgment aligns with the commandment to honor your father and mother.

III. Division among the people (John 7:25-52)
The crowd is divided in their opinions of Jesus. Some believe he is the Messiah, while others doubt because of his origins, coming from Nazareth in Galilee. Jesus provoked awe and wonder in everyone He came in contact with, seems like from this reaction, they would have known He was the Messiah.

• Cross reference verses:
  • Isaiah 9:6-7 – The prophecy of the coming Messiah, which some in the crowd believe Jesus fulfills.
  • Micah 5:2 – The prophecy of the Messiah coming from Bethlehem, which causes confusion among the crowd since they believe Jesus is from Galilee.
  • Psalm 118:22 – The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, which parallels the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish leaders.
  • Zechariah 12:10 – The prophecy of the one who is pierced, which points to Jesus as the Messiah.

Conclusion: John 7 shows the believer and follower of Jesus the importance of seeking the truth and recognizing Jesus as the source of living water. Despite the unbelief of the religious leaders and their opposition, Jesus continues to teach and reveal his identity as the Messiah. We as believers must not be swayed by the opinions of others concerning Jesus, but instead trust in Jesus and his teachings. As we seek the truth, Jesus will make sure we find the living water that Jesus offers, which will satisfy our deepest thirst, and set our souls free from all the lies and deceit of this present world.