February 4th Lesson Plan: The Book of John 7:1-24

Read John 7:1-24

What is the Feast of Booths? This is a 7-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, a direct result of the early Jewish people disobeying God's law. While the Jewish people celebrated God's provision for his people while they were in the wilderness during this festival, the religious leaders looked on, hoping to ensure that disobedience didn’t dictate further punishment on the Jewish people during their watch.

Another point of context is found in a somewhat odd interchange between Jesus and his brothers. His brothers (we’re told they don’t believe that he is who he says he is) call on him to charge onto the scene at the festival, make a stir, throw caution to the wind, and make a stand. What they are asking for is more political in nature and essentially for a power grab. Jesus has already ruffled feathers and has people talking about what he’s been doing (v 21-24). So there were some expectations and potentially many people ready to use this festival as a sort of boxing ring pitting this rising star Jesus against the Pharisees and also the Roman rule. Tension was brewing and people were hoping that the festival would end up being a big showdown. Does this sound familiar?

What is Jesus’ response to his brother’s call to arms and conflict? 

Jesus still ended up going to the feast which seems somewhat odd on the outset. If he wanted to not make any noise why did he go up to the synagogue and start teaching? 

This is the example that Jesus sets for us, for today, not just in church or work, at home, with our neighbor or family - this example is for everything in every moment. Jesus was always focused on doing the Father’s work. He never too an opportunity to lecture on his thoughts or feelings, everything was centered on what the Father had sent him to do and say. This moment was no different. He went to the feast quietly but wasn’t quiet. 

What did Jesus do in verse 14? 

When people started to notice how on point his teaching was what was his response? 

What can you apply from this approach to your life?

There are two more things in this passage for us to consider:

1) In verse 19 Jesus concludes with a very odd and seemingly out of place question - ‘Why do you seek to kill me?’. If we were in the crowd that day we might have responded with similar confusion and push back against such an outlandish accusation. I think that Jesus is poking the Pharisees in the chest here. Their response to Jesus’ popularity and the rumor that he might be the Christ isn’t to be curious or to be prayerful. In fact, often their reaction is to eliminate the threat. They already had plans on Jesus’ life but we can see their desperation grow when they decided later on that it was better to kill Lazarus so that others might not find out about Jesus’ astounding miracle of raising him from the dead. What can we learn from the Pharisees’ response to the teachings and claims of Jesus? 

2) In verse 24 Jesus reminds the people to not judge others based on outward appearance. That makes sense, and again, I think this was a jab at the religious leaders of the day who strolled around town in their robes which signified their authority over the people. The next part of this sentence also seems like part two of the 1-2 punch he was giving to the leaders who wanted nothing but to silence him and remove his influence over the Jewish people. Jesus calls for us to “judge with right judgement”. Who can actually have right judgement? Can any of us? 

I don’t think there’s anyone other than the Father who can actually judge others rightly. And yet, the Pharisees were trying to. I try to. We try to. Jesus highlights the nature of the Pharisees, I believe, to remind us that not one of us can rightly sit in judgement of others. How are we called to engage others who we think have done us wrong, are acting unjustly, or need correction? (John 13:34-35, John 15:12, Mark 12:28-34 are a few examples.)

What are some things that you have learned about Jesus and yourself today? 

Do you feel like this passage spoke to you in a particular way? How?