The Gospel of John: Come and See the Rejected One

Sunday, we begin John 7. The whole chapter is a unit that highlights the divisions that Jesus created: some believed, some questioned, and some wanted to kill him. The entire scene occurs in Jerusalem during the time of the feast of Booths (Sukkot). The feast is a week long experience where families build a small thatched structure similar to what they lived in when they came out of Egypt. It was a annual reminder that God rescued them from Egypt and planted them in Israel because of his covenant of grace. It’s an experiential reminder that they are dependent upon God.

The chapter begins with Jesus explaining to his brothers why the world hated him. John tells us that his brothers didn’t believe and that the Jews were trying to kill him. Jesus goes up to the feast secretly and begins teaching. The emphasis of this first section is the prophetic voice Jesus presents to the world and to his people.

He says, “Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law.” (v19) It’s a bold statement made to people who were in Jerusalem keeping the Feast of Booths. But that’s the problem. They assumed that because they were obedient to the law, God was pleased. Jesus urges them, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (v24)

As followers of Jesus, we accept our need of grace. Let’s look at that need this Sunday.