The Gospels · Chapter 7 of 21

John 7

What is the meaning of John 7?

At the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus goes up secretly, then teaches openly in the temple as the crowds argue whether He is a good man, a deceiver, or the Christ. On the last great day of the feast He cries out an invitation: if anyone thirsts, let him come and drink. The rulers send officers to arrest Him, but they return empty handed, confessing that no man ever spoke like this man.

What happens in John 7

Jesus stays in Galilee because leaders in Judea seek to kill Him. His own brothers, not yet believing, urge Him to show Himself at the Feast of Tabernacles. He tells them His time is not yet come, then goes up quietly. In Jerusalem the crowds murmur about Him, some calling Him good, others saying He deceives. Midway through the feast He teaches in the temple, and people marvel at His learning as He points them to the Father who sent Him. Debate swirls over whether the rulers secretly know He is the Christ, and whether the Messiah can come from Galilee.

On the last, great day of the feast Jesus stands and cries out that anyone who thirsts should come to Him and drink, and that rivers of living water will flow from the believer, which John explains refers to the Spirit. The people are divided, officers sent to arrest Him return amazed at His words, and Nicodemus quietly urges a fair hearing.

John 7 in context

The Feast of Tabernacles celebrated God's provision in the wilderness, with daily water pouring rituals and great lamps lit in the temple, the very backdrop for Jesus' cries about living water here and light of the world in the next chapter.

This section heightens the mounting conflict: the authorities want Him dead, the crowds are split, and Jesus repeatedly speaks of returning to the One who sent Him, hinting at His approaching hour.

Main themes of John 7

John 7 (KJV)

1After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5For neither did his brethren believe in him. 6Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come. 9When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? 12And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. 13Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews. 14Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? 20The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? 21Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 22Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 25Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? 26But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? 27Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. 28Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. 30Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. 31And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? 32The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. 33Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. 34Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. 35Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? 36What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come? 37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? 43So there was a division among the people because of him. 44And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. 45Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 47Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. 50Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 51Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? 52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. 53And every man went unto his own house.

Verses to carry from John 7

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”John 7:37

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”John 7:38

“The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”John 7:46

Reflection

This chapter asks where you stand in the crowd's division, for indecision about Jesus is itself a decision. It also holds out His invitation to the thirsty: come and drink. Will you keep debating Him at a distance, or come, receive His Spirit, and become a channel of living water to others?

A prayer from John 7