John 7:40-52 (Part 3)

 Hey guys, hope you are all doing well. I have about 3 assignments for you this week to prepare your hearts for our time together this weekend. 

Our text will be our third part of John 7, verses 40-52. 

From our text, we want to first take on the challenges of John 7:52 to search the scriptures to see if there has ever been a prophet arise from Galilee. 

Second, we want to search the scriptures to reconcile the prophecies about the Christ. What did they say about Him and did Jesus fulfill them? (John 7:42)

And the third assignment is some consideration about the law and who is actually breaking it and who is actually fulfilling it or maybe another way to consider it, is who knows or understands the law correctly. (John 7:49)

I will post on the website soon some notes on all 3 of these for you to review and consider after you have taken the time to ponder these questions and ideas in your heart. 

Also as with the last chapter, I asked you to complement our study with Exodus 16 with the mana and Exodus 12 with the Passover, I want you to read Matt. 1:18-2:23

Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-7, 39-40. This will refresh your mind with how God fulfilled His promises that He prophesied to do in Christ.

Hope you all have a great week and looking forward to walking through God’s word with you this weekend. Can’t wait to see how He helps us put a few more pieces of the John puzzle together, so that we can see God, Christ and His wonderful Gospel all the more clearer.

John 7:52, Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee

Here is a challenge the Pharisees make to Nicodemus. And my heart was led to accept the challenge. I did what they said, search the scriptures. My bible reference note led me to 2 Kings 14:25 

2 Kings 14:25 (ESV): He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher.

Here I recognized the name Jonah but asked is that the Jonah and the whale, Jonah? Running from God Jonah? 8 word message and the whole city gets saved Jonah?

Jonah 1:1 (ESV): Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

So then I found in Jonah 1:1, the same description not just a generic Jonah, but the same thing “Jonah the son of Amittai”. It was at this point my mind immediately thought of how Jesus spoke of Jonah and why He spoke of him.

Matthew 12:38–41 (ESV): Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

When Jesus spoke about Jonah, He was dealing with a people that refused to hear God’s present word and was walking in rebellion to Him, He was dealing with them wanting a sign, and He was prophesying to what the fulfilling of God’s way of salvation would look like. In other words, He is giving them a sign to remember when it happens, so they can know that He told them what would happen and how it would happen beforehand and in that, they would know He was Who He said He was.

My next question from text was where is Gath-hepher?

2 Kings 14:25 (ESV): He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher.

So I found a map searching for Gath-Hepher. I was familiar with where Nazareth and Capernaum were from previous studies of the terrain, like the “Feeding of the 5000” and the Matt. 4:13, reference of where it says when Jesus started His ministry, He left Nazareth and went and lived in Capernaum. This is connected to the “Feeding of the 5000” because John 6:24, says when they lost Jesus, they went back to Capernaum to find Him. That makes sense because that is where He lived and eventually would come back to. The above picture reveals a few important and interesting things.

It points out how close Gath-Hepher was to Nazareth. For 30, years Jesus would have lived in and area that was very familiar with the prophet Jonah. 5 km apart from one another and Gath-Hepher was on 1 km from Cana where Jesus turned water into wine. 

And one other verse that came up in my study for consideration was Isa. 9:1-2, which is quoted in the Matt. 4:13-16 passage. The Isaiah prophecy was directions for the religious leaders of John 7:52. If they were to take their own advice to “search the scriptures” this is a text that says a day is coming when a great light will dawn on the region of Galilee. Whether that be a prophet or the Christ, either way they were clearly in error for not accurately doing what they was challenging Nicodemus to do.

A final observation is just that Isa. 9:1-2, references The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, 2 of the tribes of Israel. The below image is a territory map of the 12 tribes, and it shows essentially where Jesus spent most of His life. Another way that the scriptures were pointing to a reality that the leaders were not aware of. If you compare the two maps and look at the mountain ranges, you can determine that Nazareth and Gath-Hepher was in Zebulun and Capernaum was in Naphtali.

In the 12 tribes of Israel unpacked in Gen. 29 and 30, we see 4 women. Leah and her servant Zilpah and Rachel and her servant Bilhah . Leah has 4 sons, then Rachael gets Bilhah her servant involved producing the 5th and 6th son to Jacob. The 6th son was Naphtali. After this Leah got her servant involved Zilpah and she produce the 7th and 8th son. Then after Rachel and Leah got into it over some mandrakes Rachel gave Jacob to Leah where she conceived 2 more times producing the 9th and 10th son, with the 10th being Zebulun. Finally Rachel had children to produce the 11th and 12th tribes of Israel.

I hope this was a fun Bible journey for you and puts some of the pieces of scripture we have together in a way that more clearly paints the awesomeness of the work of the God of the Bible.

The Law (John 7:49-52)

 The Law
John 7:49–52 (ESV): 

But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 

51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” 

So from this text from this weeks passage, we see the word law used twice. It is used as in two ways if not three without specifically saying the word law again, but suggesting it when saying “Search and see”. The leaders in this text are kind of weaponizing the scripture to defeat anyone who question their understanding of it.

We can see the people they call the crowd trying to understand the scripture and being confused based on what their leaders have told them. The leaders defense is to basically say the crowd is dumb and can’t understand all that is going on. 

When Nicodemus not caught up with anger about Jesus’ actions and still having a clear head about him uses the law in the way it should be used to direct them to carefully hear and understand what and why a person is doing what they are doing they point the same conclusions of the law they had incorrectly concluded at him with the intention of silencing him.

What we can learn here is sometimes coming to the truth of what scripture actually says puts us in a position where we may have to surrender our long term held wrong beliefs at times. We can’t ever think we have it all figured out. Nicodemus demonstrates that here. In John 3, we see him coming to ask questions of Jesus and he is willing to listen even when what Jesus says is hard to understand and to accept. It is a bit ironic that Nicodemus is the one they challenged to “search the scriptures” because he is the only leader that is recorded in scripture to doing that. You can probably safely bet that he did do just that “search the scriptures”. That could be why we see him involved in making sure Jesus is buried properly after His death. 

John 7:19 (ESV): Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”

Going back up to our 1 part of our John 7 study we see Jesus addressing the law with the leaders here. He first will tell them they don’t keep it and next He will tell them they don’t understand it.

The law of Moses says “Thou shalt not Murder” so if they desire to kill Him they are breaking the law of Moses and refusing to keep it. Jesus later adds to that saying if one is angry with his brother he is guilty in his heart of murder. So in this dialogue if they are guilty of anger or murder desires they are breaking the law of Moses.

John 7:23 (ESV): If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well?

Here is their second error of not truly understanding the law. Jesus calls them to consider if the setting a child apart for God is so important, you do it on the Sabbath, how is restoring an adult person completely not something important enough to do on the Sabbath? The primary directive of the Sabbath was to not do any “ordinary work” on it. If setting a child apart for God is not “ordinary work” then why is restoring and redeeming a adult considered “ordinary work” that should be prohibited?

John 5:39–40 (ESV): You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

They refused to come to Him in one way because they could not see that the Scriptures were talking about Him and how He could give them eternal life. They did search the scriptures and took much of them literal, but they never seen or understood them through the veil removed by Christ. They could physically read and understand, but they could not spiritual see or understand the gravity of the words of scripture.

John 5:46–47 (ESV): For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” 

Ok, I hope this generates some thoughtful consideration and some perspective that is helpful. Hope you all have a great day. Look forward to seeing you next time we can get together.

From Galilee

 From Galilee

John 7:42 (ESV): Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

Psalm 89:3–4 (ESV): You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; 

I have sworn to David my servant: 

 4  ‘I will establish your offspring forever, 

and build your throne for all generations.’ ”

Micah 5:2 (ESV): But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, 

  from you shall come forth for me 

one who is to be ruler in Israel, 

  whose coming forth is from of old, 

from ancient days. 

Ezekiel 34:23–24 (ESV): And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken. 

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV): Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 2:1 (ESV): Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem

Luke 2:4–7 (ESV): And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:39–40 (ESV): And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. 

Matt. 1:18-2:23

Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-7, 39-40

John 7:25-39 (Part 2)

 Hey guys this weekend our text for Part 2 of John 7 will be John 7:25-39, and it will have 3 parts.

 
1-John 7:25-31
2-John 7:32-36
3-John 7:37-39

For the Big Picture of the Whole Chapter
Consider 3 different polls of thought made. 

1-John 7:11-13, 
He is good or bad?

2-John 7:25-27, 31, 
Do the rulers really know He is the Christ?

3-John 7:40-43, 
Is the Christ to come from Galilee?

The reoccurring pattern we see is the crowd considering matters and trying to make conclusions and the Pharisees responding to that.

John 7:1-24 (Part 1)

Podcast

Feast, John 5:1, 6:4, 7:2 

John 7:1 (After this)
(Feast of the Jews)(The Passover, the feast of the Jews)(the Jews’ Feast of Booths) (John 7:21, I did one work and you all marveled at it)(John 7:23, on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well?)

(Part 1 of 6)
1-Fame and Ministry Effectiveness
John 7:1-5

2-My Time has not Come
(Active vs Passive)
(Preperation Day)

John 7:6-10  
3-The Poll:Good or Bad
John 7:11-13  

(Part 2 of 6)
4-One’s Teaching
John 7:14-18  

5-Circumcision vs Healing
John 7:19-24  

The world hates me and they are seeking to kill me (seeking)
John 7:7, John 7:19-20 

John 7 Questions to Consider

 John 7:1-52, 

A saved person has the Spirit of God in them and is able to learn from God’s word.

 I heard a successful Bible teacher comment once “that the reason believers struggle with thriving in God’s word usually is because they don’t ask good questions of the text”.

 In the book of John, we see people hear the words of the Lord and the questions their minds ask often leads them down the wrong path. 

So consider, learning from them and be still and let the Holy Spirit direct the question you ponder in your heart. Don’t just be led by the logical question of your old man. 

Take a moment to recognize who you are as a believer and who lives inside of you. 

Take a moment to be guided to better questions that cause the weight of the text to have a greater impact.

For some Scriptural Consideration

1-(From our Book) John 7:17, John 6:45 

2-(It is written) Isa. 54:13, Jer.31:33-34 

3-(From the Letters) 1 Cor. 2:10-16, Heb. 8:10-11

John 7:1-13  

Feast of Booths (What is that?)(What time of year?)(What is the purpose of it?)

What was the tension involved with Jesus going to Judea and where was He staying to avoid that tension?

Who was harassing Jesus for not going to Judea and why?

What is your thoughts about people that seek to be know in the public eye but are a much different person when the spotlight is not on them? Was Jesus like that? Are most people like that?

What does this phrase “My time has not yet come” mean and where else do we find it in scripture?

Why does the world hate Jesus?

Was people looking for Jesus at the feast? What did they think about Jesus, good or bad, for them? Why did no one speak openly about Him?

John 7:14-24   

At what point in time in the text did Jesus show Himself? And what did He do?

What did the people think about Jesus teaching and what did He say about His teaching and how He learned it?

How can we today know if someone’s teaching is from God?

Did the people of the text keep the law of Moses?

When Jesus told his audience that they were seeking to kill him, what was their response?

What logical defense does Jesus set forth to justify His action of healing a man or the Sabbath? How does their pattern of honoring Moses law of circumcision relate to this? What man healed on the Sabbath are they upset about?

Do we and people we know often like this group judge a book by it’s cover? Do we show poor judgement at times because we have not taken the time to consider the matter properly?

John 7:25-31  

Did the crowd see a contradiction in the leaders actions? When Jesus was not around they talked bad about Him, but when He was walking around in the open, their mouths were shut. What question did this arise in their minds? 

Where did they think the Christ would come from?

Did the crowd know who sent Jesus? 

When the text says “many of the people believed in Him” and then says “When the Christ appears, will He do more signs than this man has done”, is that a saving belief in the Christ? What belief is it that they have? They believe Jesus is from God, but yet not the Christ. Can a belief in something other than the Christ save you?

John 7:32-36  

Why did the Pharisees send officers to arrest Jesus?

What was Jesus response to them try to arrest Him?

What does He mean by saying, “You will seek me and you will not find me?” And “Where I am you cannot come?”

In these questions is He speaking physically or spiritually?

John 7:37-39  

“One the last day of the feast”, What feast are we talking about and how many days was the feast?

How was Jesus going to quench the thirst of anyone who was thirsty?

What does rivers of living water flowing from one’s heart mean?

Why was the Spirit not given yet? When could this river flowing from ones heart actually happen?

John 7:40-52 

Does whether you believe Jesus is a prophet or the Christ matter?

Can the Christ come from Galilee?

Does the scripture say the Christ comes from the offspring of David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?

Did this cause division among the crowd? Does it cause division today with people? Does it cause a division or confusion in your heart because you just don’t know the answer? Is Jesus just a prophet of old or the Christ?

Why did the officer not arrest Jesus?

Why did the Pharisees say was the reason the crowd was confused by this man?

What question did Nicodemus propose to the leaders? What was their response to his question?

Is it true that no prophet arises from Galilee? 

John 6:60-71 (Part 6)

 Podcast

John 6:60-71 (Part 6)

1-Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand John 6:1

2-Jesus Walk on Water John 6:16 

3-Seeking Jesus John 6:22, 

You are not seeking me because you saw signs, John 6:26  

(The ultimate motive of their hearts)

4-So the Jews grumbled John 6:41

5-The Jews then disputed John 6:52

6-This is a hard saying; who can listen to it? John 6:60

After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. John 6:66

John 6:60-63  (part 1) Every one is upset

(Do you every feel like you are in a world where everyone is upset?)

1-a hard saying, who can listen to it?  

How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly, (John 10:24-26, Matt. 19:16, Mark 10:17, 

2-But Jesus knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling about this said to them, (John 6:6, 15, John 13:1, 11, 18:4)(John 13:7, John 13:18)

3-(Logic)Do you take offense at this? John 6:61 

(Forgiveness, 1-downward,2-inward, 3-outward)(Where do you need to handle business with Jesus starting 2023?)

      A-What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? John 6:62  

John 16:25, 28-31, final words to disciples

(figures of speech, Matt. 13:10, 13) Why do you speak in parables?

(This is why, I speak to them in parables)

Luke 24:51, Acts 1:1-3, 9-11  

     B-It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is no help at all, John 6:63,  (John 1:12-13, Matt. 26:41, John 3:6)

The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life

John 6:64-65 (part 2)Enough Belief

(What degree of belief do you have to have to be saved?)

(Some people in scripture build doctrine base on believe text, but not every text speaks to saving belief)

4-But still there are some of you who do not believe

 (John 10:22-29) How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly. John 6:66 

Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe and who it was who would betray Him John 6:37, 39, (Crowds, John 2:23-25, Samaratian Woman, John 4:19-26, Samaritan town, 39-42, Capernaum Official,  48-53, Feast of Booths Crowd, John 7 :31, Man born blind, John 9:35-38) 

5-This is why I told you “that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father”

John 6:66-69 (part 3) When all the things of this world is taken away

1-Many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him

Do you want to go away as well? (Not seeker friendly)(John 6:67) 

Matt. 19:27, Mark 10:28, Peter forsaking all.  Matt. 19:20, “what do I still lack? And Mark 10:21, “And Jesus loved him”

2-Where would we go? (John 6:68)

You have the words of eternal life (hope of resurrection)(event 101)

We see you as the messiah 

(Matt. 16:16 (event 109)not on his own accord, John 11:49-52 )

Heb. 11:8-10, 13-16 

John 6:70-71 (part 4) How certain is your future in Him?

I chose you, but one of you is a devil (John 13:2, 27)Satan working in Judas

(John 13:18-19, 21-30, John 17:12, John 18:1-9)(John 13:1-  

3-Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you? (John 6:70) (John 15:16, 1 John 4:19)

4-And yet one of you is a devil. He spoke of Judas (one of the twelve) 

One would betray Him. 

James 2:19, 

They do not believe because you are not among my sheep John 10:26

3 types or levels of belief, faith, revelation, knowing, trusting, 

Natural, General, Special Revelation

Surface basic knowing, Specialized knowing, Intimate Knowing (Personal relationship, missed heaven by 18 inches)