John 7
World English Bible
WEB1After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. 3His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.” 5For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6Jesus therefore said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. 8You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled.” 9Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee. 10But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret. 11The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he?” 12There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.” 13Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews. 14But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?” 16Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God or if I am speaking from myself. 18He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?” 20The multitude answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?” 21Jesus answered them, “I did one work and you all marvel because of it. 22Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” 25Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill? 26Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ? 27However, we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.” 28Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. 29I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?” 32The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me. 34You will seek me and won’t find me. You can’t come where I am.” 35The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me, and won’t find me;’ and ‘Where I am, you can’t come’?” 37Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” 39But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified. 40Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.” 41Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “What, does the Christ come out of Galilee? 42Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43So a division arose in the multitude because of him. 44Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him. 45The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?” 46The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” 47The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you? 48Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in him? 49But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is cursed.” 50Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them, 51“Does our law judge a man unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?” 52They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” 53Everyone went to his own house,
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
John Chapter 7 presents a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus, as He attends the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. This chapter begins with Jesus' brothers urging Him to go to Judea and perform miracles publicly, suggesting that if He truly is the Messiah, He should not hide His works. However, Jesus responds that His time has not yet come, indicating the divine timing of His mission. This sets the stage for the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, as they seek to understand His identity and authority. The chapter highlights the theme of belief and disbelief, as some people are divided in their opinions about Jesus, with some acknowledging Him as a prophet while others question His origins, saying, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?" (John7:12).
As the feast progresses, Jesus boldly teaches in the temple, proclaiming that anyone who is thirsty should come to Him and drink, promising that rivers of living water will flow from within them (John7:37-38). This invitation emphasizes the spiritual sustenance He offers, fulfilling the deeper needs of the people. The chapter concludes with the religious leaders' growing hostility towards Jesus, as they send officers to arrest Him, but they return empty-handed, marveling at His words. This moment underscores the authority of Jesus' teaching and the challenge He poses to the established religious order, ultimately foreshadowing the conflict that will lead to His crucifixion.
Referenced by
- Leviticus 23:34v2Leviticus 23:34 introduces the Feast of Tabernacles, which is mentioned in John 7:2 as a time when Jesus taught in the temple, symbolizing God's provision and presence among His people.
- Isaiah 55:1v37Isaiah 55:1 invites everyone who thirsts to come to the waters, which is echoed by Jesus in John 7:37 when He invites those who are thirsty to come to Him and drink, symbolizing the spiritual satisfaction found in Him.
- Jeremiah 17:13v37Jeremiah 17:13 speaks of the Lord as the fountain of living water, which is echoed in John 7:37-38 where Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come to Him and drink.
- Ezekiel 47:9v38Ezekiel 47:9 speaks of the river bringing life wherever it flows. In John 7:38, Jesus speaks of rivers of living water flowing from within believers, symbolizing the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.
- Mark 3:21v5In Mark 3:21, Jesus' family thinks He is out of His mind, paralleling John 7:5 where His brothers do not believe in Him, highlighting the initial misunderstanding and disbelief even among those closest to Him.
- John 4:10v37In John 4:10, Jesus speaks of the 'living water' He offers, which is further explained in John 7:37-39 as the Holy Spirit, whom believers would receive.
- Acts 2:33v39Acts 2:33 describes Jesus being exalted and receiving the promised Holy Spirit, which He pours out, fulfilling Jesus' promise in John 7:39 about the Spirit being given after His glorification.
- Revelation 22:17v37Revelation 22:17 invites all who are thirsty to come and take the water of life freely, paralleling Jesus' invitation in John 7:37-39 to come and drink of the living water.
Topics in this chapter
- Living Water
- Holy Spirit
- Division
- Feast of Tabernacles
- Messiah
- Divine Timing
- Belief
- Fulfillment
- Righteous Judgment
- Spiritual Renewal
- Authority
- Eternal Life
- Faith
- Galilee
- God's Timing
- Jerusalem
- Jesus
- Nicodemus
- Patience
- Pharisees
- Provision
- Skepticism
- Sovereignty of God
- Spiritual Fulfillment
- Spiritual Thirst
- Trust
- Truth
- Belief and Unbelief
- Bethlehem
- Boldness
- Christian Art
- Crowd
- Disbelief
- Discernment
- Divine Authority
- Divine Presence
- Divine Teaching
- Empowerment
- Equality
- Evangelism
- Fairness
- Family
- Glory
- God's Plan
- Honor
- Hymn
- Identity of Jesus
- Jesus as Prophet
- Jesus' Brothers
- Jesus' Ministry
- Jesus' Teachings
- Jewish Leaders
- Judea
- Justice
- Life
- Literary Metaphor in the Bible
- Messianic Identity
- Messianic Prophecy
- Miracles
- Openness
- Opposition
- Pentecost
- Pharisee
- Presence of God
- Prophetic Fulfillment
- Prophetic Origin
- Providence
- Purpose
- Religious Authority
- Religious Leaders
- Salvation
- Sanhedrin
- Scripture Misunderstanding
- Scripture Reading
- Social Justice
- Spiritual Nourishment
- Spiritual Satisfaction
- Sukkot
- Teacher
- Temple
- Temptation
- The Identity of Jesus Christ
- The Presence of God
- Transformation
- Understanding
- Worship
- Worship Music
Related chapters
- John 4Spiritual FulfillmentLiving WaterScripture Reading
- John 6CrowdThe Identity of Jesus ChristSpiritual Nourishment
- John 3NicodemusPhariseeJudea
- John 5Jewish LeadersThe Identity of Jesus ChristSanhedrin
- John 8Jesus' TeachingsReligious LeadersPharisees
- Micah 5BethlehemMessianic Prophecy
- Revelation 22Living WaterLifeWorship Music
- Mark 3JudeaReligious LeadersJesus' Ministry
- Acts 2CrowdJudeaPentecost
- John 2Jewish LeadersBeliefGalilee
- Isaiah 55Spiritual SatisfactionSpiritual NourishmentLiving Water
- Isaiah 44Living WaterSpiritual RenewalWorship Music
Your study
Take it with you
This chapter’s study as a Markdown file. The analysis was written for a notebook originally, so the hashtags arrive as hashtags and the passages as links.