Year 2, Week 34, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 34, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of John 7-8.

Today’s reading consists of two chapters from John’s Gospel account. John 7 begins with Jesus in the region of Galilee because He was somewhat hesitant to go back into the region of Judah: “After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him” (John 7:1). But it was time for the Feast of Tabernacles (six months after Passover) and Jesus’ disciples encouraged Him to journey to Jerusalem: “Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing” (John 7:2-3). Therefore, Jesus’ disciples head to Jerusalem without Him; but as the Feast is underway, Jesus publicly appears at the Temple and begins teaching: “About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me” (John 7:14-16). But the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious establishment irrupts again as they seek to have Him removed from the Temple area: “The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him” (John 7:32). John 8 continues the interactions between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders during the Feast of Tabernacles. As matters intensify even more, Jesus explains to the Jewish leaders who they belonged to: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires” (John 8:42-44).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading were the important and truthful claims that Jesus made concerning Himself, that were perhaps driven by the mutterings of the crowds: “Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?” (John 7:25-26). Jesus responds to their considerations by making a clear, but provocative statement concerning who He is and where He came from: “So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me” (John 7:28-29).

As the Feast of Tabernacles was unfolding, Jesus makes a few claims about Himself that were pertinent to the nature of the Jewish celebration: “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 8:37-38). The inclusion of water during this celebration probably harkened back to the days of Moses when we was able to draw water from the rock. So, water-pouring ceremony pointed back to that but it also served to remind the people of God’s goodness in providing water to drink during their ancestors’ wilderness wanderings, rain for the crops the previous year, but also hope for water to be poured out during the Messianic age: "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1). What the Feast of Tabernacles anticipated, Jesus fulfilled: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation…Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 12:3-6).

Also during the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus makes another claim that has connections to the nature of the Jewish celebration: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Along with the water-pouring ceremony, the Feast of Tabernacles also included a lighting of candles. This inclusion of light during the celebration touched on several matters from the Old Testament Scriptures: (a) God’s presence with his people after they departed Egypt was symbolized in the pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day (Exodus 13:21-22); (b) light symbolized salvation (Psalm 27:1); (c) God’s word was depicted as a light to guide His people (Psalm 119:105); (d) God called Israel to be a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:6); and (e) the perhaps even more significant, prophets predicted that light would shine forth from the temple in the last days (Isaiah 60:14-22; Zechariah 14:5-7). All that the symbol of light pointed to, Jesus fulfilled.

But the claim, “I am the light of the world,” not only was pertinent to the Feast of Tabernacles, it was also one of the several “I am” statements that Jesus expressed concerning Himself. The “I am” statements connect the LORD’s revelation of Himself to Moses: “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus’ use of “I am” was a clear claim of His Deity. In fact, the Jewish religious leaders were incited to stone Jesus as He invoked yet another “I am” statement during His claim that Abraham had seen Him: “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him” (John 8:56-59a).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe