2019.01.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ John 7:14-36

Read John 7:14-36

Questions for Littles: Who goes to the temple in the middle of the feast (v14)? What does He do there? What do the Jews notice that Jesus knows (v15)? How does Jesus explain why He has learned theology so well (v16)? Whom does Jesus say will be able to recognize His true theology (v17)? Whose glory does Jesus seek (v18)? What does Jesus accuse them of seeking to do in v19? Whose law does this break? Of what do the people accuse Jesus (v20)? What were they willing to do on the Sabbath (v22)? What had Jesus done on the Sabbath (v23)? What does Jesus call their judging Him for this (v24)? What did some of them who were actually from Jerusalem say in v25? What do they wonder in v26? What do they think they know about Jesus (v27)? Whom does Jesus say actually knows where/Whom He is from (v28-29)? What did they try to do in v30? Why couldn’t they? What did many do in v31? Whom did they again send to take Him in v32? What does Jesus say is going to be a problem for those who hope to capture Him (v33-34)? Where do they think He might be talking about (v35)? 

In the Gospel reading this week, we see how soul-killing man-fearing is.

The people assume that their leaders know what they’re talking about. If they pretend that no one is trying to kill Jesus, then they’ll believe that over Jesus’s own testimony. If they say Jesus’s healing was Sabbath-breaking, then it must have been. If they think that Jesus is the Christ, then maybe He really is. After all, only someone who had gone to Pharisee or Priest school would know their Bible doctrine, right?

Jesus points out that His Sabbath keeping was superior to theirs. He teaches that honoring God and seeking only God’s glory is a surer path to true doctrine than theology school. Throughout the passage, He is repeatedly teaching that they don’t know either from where He’s come or to where He’s going. All of the assumptions that they make by going with the crowd have set them at odds with the Scripture.

Why? Because they are more interested in appearances than in true righteousness (v24). If you and I worry about our own glory in front of others, then we will end up speaking not from Scripture but from ourselves. What about you? Are you searching the Scriptures to know God truly and trust in Christ?

What habits do you have in place for Scripture study? How do these habits also help protect you from the fear of men and desire for popularity? 

Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage?” or TPH539 “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?”