Am I Wrong About Jesus?

Introduction

Beginning with chapter 7 and going through chapter 10, Jesus is in Jerusalem during two festivals. The first is the Feast of Tabernacles commemorating two specific events—the time that Israel lived in tents during the wilderness wandering and the harvest. This festival was in the fall of the year and was a way of celebrating God’s provision through the harvest even as he provided for Israel as it was in the desert awaiting entrance into the promised land. The second festival is found in chapter 10 and it is called the Feast of Dedication. Today we call this Hanukkah. It takes place in the winter of the year around our Christmas time. It is a feast celebrating the rededication of the temple in December 164 B.C. after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes. Both of these festivals celebrate God’s provision and protection. It appears that Jesus remains in Jerusalem from mid October through the end of December—a little over two months. Jesus uses these feast times to make statements about himself and his ministry.

In our text, there are a number of people weighing into the discussion about the nature of Jesus. Who is he? Is he what he claims to be? Jesus knowing this discussion is going on adds to his claims. It is not enough to heal. It is not enough to claim to be sent from heaven. In our text he is going to claim to be the one who satisfies spiritual thirst. As we will see the crowds are uncertain. Pieces of the puzzle are being put together but not all the pieces fit—or do they?

The Puzzle

Beginning in verse 25 the people are given the opportunity to speak about what they observe about Jesus and the surrounding events. So what are the people saying?

They know that the religious leaders want Jesus dead, but they continue to let him speak (v. 26). Does this suggest that they believe in Jesus as the Messiah? Not possible others say (v. 27). We know this man’s origin and when the Messiah comes no one will know where he is from. Some believe because of all the signs they have seen and heard about (v. 31). The religious leaders send out an armed guard to arrest him (v. 32). Some believe that Jesus is a prophet (v. 40). Some believe he is the Christ (v. 41). Some are intrigued but Jesus cannot be the Christ because he isn’t from Bethlehem or from David’s family (v. 42). The guards believe that Jesus has some special authority (v. 46). Jesus’ origin from Galilee clearly indicates that he cannot be believed at all according to the religious leaders (v. 52).

Do you sense the confusion? Do you sense the awkwardness as people wrestle with what they hear and see? There are things that do not line up together. There is conflict among those who are supposed to know the law. There are those who say that we aren’t supposed to know the origin of the Messiah and there are those who say we are.

The gospel of John does not reveal Jesus’ place of birth or his lineage. Those details come from Matthew and Luke. If John leaves out that information then why include the questions here, when simply reading this account will not get you the information you need to know the answer? One of the challenges of Mrs. Rossman, my 5th grade teacher was asking her a question. She was an older woman. She probably wasn’t as old as I thought she was, but in my recollection she was old. She was in some ways harsh. I don’t recall any mistreatment but unlike some elementary teachers she did not have a “soft” side in the classroom. So when you asked a question you were never sure what the answer would be—the patient Mrs. Rossman or the one who was fed up for the day. So came the day that I asked her how to spell a word. I suppose we had a writing assignment or some sort and I couldn’t remember how to spell a word. Do you know what she told me to do? Look it up in the dictionary. (That’s a book with all the words of the English language in it.) Her answer confused me. If I don’t know how to spell it, how am I supposed to look it up?

Is Jesus from David’s family and where was Jesus born? John’s lack of answer assumes that people either know this information already or he is giving people an opportunity to learn on their own. When I looked up the word as best as I could, I discovered how to spell it. If a reader was to inquire about Jesus what would they discover? He is from David’s line and he was born in Bethlehem. It is as if John is writing with this thought in mind—if his physical origin is what is keeping you from trusting Jesus then what about his spiritual origin? Is that enough to convince you?

So in verses 28 & 29 Jesus declares that his origin is from God. In verses 33 & 34 he claims that he is going away to a place that they cannot follow. And in verses 37-38, Jesus makes the biggest claim of all. He is the one who can provide real water.

The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths was a time to remember what God had done for Israel when he brought them out of Egypt. Living in small booths, the people celebrated what God had done. By the time of Jesus the temple events associated with this festival were quite pronounced. Each day priests would march in solemn procession from the pool of Siloam to the temple and pour water at the base of the altar. On the last day of the festival there was an elaborate ceremony involved in pouring the water out. This is what generates Jesus’ response in verse 37. The elaborate ceremony has taken place. The people are all around. They have gathered on this last day of the festival to engage the ceremony and to eat a meal commemorating the end of the festival but a fellowship meal with God as well. Isaiah 12:2-3 would have been uttered during the pouring out the water—“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Jesus’ Claim

And with those words still ringing in the ears of the people in the temple, Jesus stands up and shouts—“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him.” The contrast is complete. You can watch priests bring in water pouring it around the altar of God and have fellowship with God through a ceremony or you can come and drink or learn from me and have fellowship with me as the one sent from God. And I will give you the Spirit who will bring real life to you.

There was another part of the ceremony. The people sang the Hallel. From Psalms 113-118, these words would be sung during the last day of the feast. Listen to the last part of Psalm 118 beginning in verse 26. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” and Jesus rises and says “I am he who has come in the name of the Lord. I have living water to share.” And the people are confused, uncertain, perplexed, and thinking.

This symbolism is lost on us since we are not Jewish. But in profound ways Jesus is offering people fulfillment of what they have been waiting for. God was going to send his chosen one. Jesus is the one. And Jesus will send the Spirit after his crucifixion. Real life is found only in Jesus. The questions you may have about Jesus can be answered but it begins with us as it did with those in the temple courts so long ago. Open your eyes. Sing the song with expectation. Don’t let the ceremony keep you from seeing the reality behind the symbols.

Come and drink of the One from God. And having had your thirst satisfied, know that you now can share with others. Because of our fellowship with Jesus we are now able to share with others. Jesus gives life and we in turn bubble up life to share. Every believer receives the Spirit. This is the promise of Jesus. Peter expressed the same point in Acts 2. Upon a confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, people are told to repent and be baptized and they will receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus promised.

Follow Jesus

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