Judge with Right Judgment (John 7:1-52)
Isn’t it interesting that although we are looking at the same picture, some of us see a young woman while others see an old woman?
The picture shown is a famous optical illusion that first appeared on an 1888 German postcard. It was popularized by a British Cartoonist who published the illusion under the title “My Wife and My Mother-in-Law.” Not sure if he had to go for marriage counseling after that.
David Webb, who is a lecturer in psychology, says that optical illusions provide insight into how our brains process information. When we look at the image, our brains automatically make assumptions based on the information that our eyes are receiving. These assumptions are influenced by our prior experiences and beliefs, and they shape the way that we perceive the image. Thus one study shared that older people tend to see the old woman first whilst younger people tend to see the young woman first.
The point I want to make is that our experiences and beliefs shape the way we process information and how we form opinions of people. Within moments of meeting a person, we make assumptions based on what we hear and see. If we value credentials, we might be quick to dismiss a person who lacks an advance degree. If we value eloquence, we might lose interest the moment the speaker stammers. If we value discipline, we might dismiss a person who appears disorganised.
Sometimes our initial judgements about a person are spot on. But sometimes we are mistaken. Thus it is much wiser to set aside our presuppositions and give people a fair hearing before forming opinions.
We will see in today’s sermon text the dangers of allowing traditions and beliefs to prejudice our view of Jesus.
Although the Jews had the opportunity to listen to Jesus’ teachings and observe His life, they failed to judge with right judgement. Instead of seeing Jesus as the Christ whom God had sent to save them from their sins, some saw a good teacher, whilst others saw a demon-possessed man. Because of their prejudices and entrenched beliefs, they could not see God’s gift of a Saviour.
Unlike the optical illusion, there is only one correct way to see Jesus. Those who see Him as the Christ will receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. But those who fail to judge rightly and dismiss Jesus as inconsequential remain under God’s judgement.
Therefore, it is pertinent that we put aside our presuppositions and listen to Jesus’ teachings found in John 7 with an open heart. Let us follow Nicodemus’ advice in John 7:51 to not pass judgment on Jesus without first giving Him a hearing and learning what He does.
May the Holy Spirit help us understand Jesus’ teachings and enable us to see Him as the Christ whom God has sent to save us from sin and satisfy our thirst.
Let us read John 7:1-5.
After incurring the wrath of the religious leaders in Jerusalem for healing a lame man on the Sabbath, Jesus withdraws to Galilee.
Galilee could be likened to Pulau Ubin. It was far from the capital and not held in high regard by the people. No famous schools and no notable residents. In the same way we would not expect our next prime minister to hail from Pulau Ubin, the Jews would not expect anyone of significance to come from Galilee.
Thus, Jesus’ brothers questioned His decision to minister in Galilee. They believed that Jesus should showcase His talents in the capital where He could gain more exposure and recognition.
Further, one of the great Jewish festivals was at hand. The Feast of Booths was one of three national festivals that everyone would attend in the capital. Whilst we only get 2 days off during Chinese New Year, the Jews would get more than a week. It was a great time of celebration that no one would want to miss.
Hence, Jesus’ brothers saw the perfect opportunity for Jesus to shine. Like the managing agents for Taylor Swift and Coldplay who strategically choose venues that maximise impact, the brothers urged Jesus to perform at this major festival in Jerusalem. They could imagine that if Jesus turned water into wine for the crowds, people would flock to be His disciples.
But John highlights a glaring problem in John 7:5. He says, “for not even his brothers believed in him.”
At this point in time, Jesus’ brothers were unbelievers. As such, the brother’s advice to Jesus was worldly. They were speaking from their own experiences and beliefs. They themselves were not attracted to a prophet who ministered in the outer regions of Galilee. They were unimpressed by Jesus’ lack of showmanship and probably felt that Jesus lacked the drive needed to be a superstar. Hence, they sought to get Jesus to act in a way that might earn their respect and win their allegiance.
I am not sure if the brothers realised that they were propagating the lie Satan told during his attempt to make Jesus sin in the wilderness. Satan had promised Jesus power and glory should He put aside His obedience to God and do as Satan commanded. Similarly, the brothers were implying that if Jesus followed their advice, He would be a success and amass many disciples. The brothers were encouraging Jesus to glorify himself rather than God.
Let us read Jesus’ response in John 7:6-9.
In recent days there has been much news about the upcoming General Elections. Candidates will strategise about hosting rallies in places that will give them the most exposure. Thus, campaign managers would readily agree that the brother’s advice to candidate in Jerusalem is wise.
However, Jesus out rightly rejects this plan. The brothers were still of the world and were not attuned to God’s will.
Jesus, on the other hand, is the obedient Son of God. He is always thinking about what pleases God.
Some of us here might remember the acronym WWJD, “what would Jesus do?”. Well, Jesus lived by WWPG — “what would please God?”.
Jesus will never do anything that is not in accordance with God’s will. Jesus will never jump the gun and do something that is not in accordance with God’s timing. Jesus is always 100% focused on pleasing His Father. This is why Jesus’ ways are in opposition to the worlds’. This is why the world embraced the brothers but hated Jesus.
Therefore, Jesus tells His brothers to go on without Him. He will not go up to Jerusalem in the manner they had suggested. He will not do things the world’s way. He will stay in Galilee until God tells Him otherwise.
Friends, the most striking part of this section is when Jesus said to his brothers, “the world cannot hate you”. Although many of us may long to be loved by everyone, it is quite the judgment to be loved by the world. This is because the world is often used in the Bible to represent those opposed to God. Thus the brothers receive quite the rebuke in John 7:7.
Despite being part of Jesus’ earthly family, the brothers are not yet a part of Jesus’ spiritual family. The brothers, at this point in time reveal their worldliness and lack of true faith.
It is a sobering thought for those of us who have been part of Christian circles for a long time. We can learn of Jesus from a young age, attend church our whole life, yet still remain a part of the world.
Do your actions reveal that you are a friend of Jesus or a friend of the world?
If we truly belong to Jesus, then we must demonstrate a clean break from this world. We cannot talk and act in a manner that the world affirms. Our counsel must be different from the world’s. We cannot simply speak from experience, but according to God’s revealed word. We must act in a way that seeks to glorify God rather ourselves. We must please God rather than man. Do your actions reveal that you are a friend of Jesus or a friend of the world?
At this point in time, Jesus’ brothers persisted in their unbelief. I half suspect that they shook their heads and left with disappointment. Had they wasted their time following a man who was content to be a second-tier prophet in the middle of nowhere? Perhaps it was time for them to scout out a new master in Jerusalem where all the notable leaders would gather.
Let us look at John 7:10. Wait a minute, did Jesus just trick His brothers?
Of course not! God is the embodiment of truth and Jesus would never lie.
Earlier, Jesus made clear that He would not go up to Jerusalem in the manner and spirit that His brothers had suggested. Jesus will wait on God’s timing. And when He did go, His goal would not be to put on a spectacle with the hopes of attracting more disciples but to glorify God.
Thus in John 7:10, John emphasises a distinction between the departures. It was only after His brothers had left that Jesus discerned that it was His Father’s will for Him to attend the Feast. Further, Jesus would go up on His terms. Instead of attracting much attention, Jesus would go in private.
Jesus likely spent the first few days in Jerusalem communing in private with His Heavenly Father. He would intentionally keep a low profile until the time was right.
So please do not justify lies by pointing to this verse. When we read it in context, we see that Jesus was simply making it clear that He would not be going up in a self-glorifying Spirit. Jesus will go to Jerusalem in accordance with God’s will and in a manner that glorifies God.
Even though Jesus was keeping a low profile, He was already the talk of town (John 7:11-13). However, many dared not enquire openly because of a fear of the Jewish authorities. The fear of being in the bad books of the religious teachers kept people from exploring the truth.
Who we fear matters. A fear of man can be paralysing and can keep us from doing what is pleasing to God.
Just think about the reasoning behind your hesitation to believe or apply God’s truths to your life. Some of us have found it hard to attend church or go through baptism when our parents express strong displeasure. Some of us avoid letting colleagues and classmates know we are a Christian for fear of being ridiculed or excluded. Some of us forgo the opportunity to share the gospel because we fear the opinion of man. Some of us do not let others help us conquer sin because we are afraid of condemnation.
How has your fear of man affected your spiritual journey or obedience to God’s commands?
How has your fear of man affected your spiritual journey or obedience to God’s commands? A fear of God, on the other hand, frees us to put God first because we know that God matters the most and He alone has the power to protect us from harm and vindicate us at the right time. If only the people feared God more than the religious leaders, they would not have missed the opportunity to spend time with Jesus and come to a saving faith.
Will you let a right fear of God free you from the fear of man?
Do not let the fear of man keep you from knowing the truth about Jesus. Do not let the fear of man keep you from pleasing God and growing in the faith.
In John 7:14-18, Jesus Himself models fearing God more than man. In spite of the hostility, Jesus went into the temple to teach. The people are amazed by what Jesus was saying. But their attention soon revolved around His credentials. They wondered how Jesus could explain the Scriptures so well when he had never been trained by their revered rabbis.
Even during Jesus’ time, qualifications mattered. The path to becoming a religious teacher began with schooling by a respected rabbi. Hence some of the Jews began to discount Jesus’ teachings because He did not possess the qualifications they esteemed. They could not bring themselves to listen to someone whom they viewed as self-taught. It would have been akin to a congregation telling a faithful preacher to sit down just because he does not possess a Master of Divinity.
Knowing what was going on in their hearts, Jesus tells the Jews that He is more qualified than any other rabbi. His teachings are not pulled out of thin air. Rather, His teachings come straight from God. Jesus’ point is that He is no ordinary man. He has no need to learn how to interpret God’s Word from a man because He is from God. God Himself has given Jesus the knowledge and authority to teach. In fact, the apostle John begins his gospel account by telling us that Jesus is the Word of God that has taken on flesh.
Friends, how is it that the Jews could not discern the treasure that was before their very eyes?
Jesus reveals the key to recognising Him as the Christ in John 7:17. Those who earnestly desire to do God’s will, will recognise Jesus’ teachings as God’s truths and believe in Him. In other words, if you have an earnest desire to please and honour God, you will easily recognise those who are from God.
The true people of God will recognise the God-centeredness of Jesus. They will note how intently Jesus seeks the glory of God and will believe His every word. Everything Jesus said and did glorified God, and hence we who are created to glorify God should readily follow Christ.
Friends, how intent are you on doing God’s will? Is pleasing God your number one priority? Is your goal in life to glorify God?
If you seek to magnify God, you will recognise Jesus’ teachings as God’s truths and believe in Him.
In John 7:18, Jesus not only defends His teachings but aids us in identifying false teachers.
Over the years people have asked me for my opinion on certain popular preachers, especially the ones who have their own TV show.
Well, Jesus tells us what we are to look out for whenever we hear a sermon or read a Christian book. Those who are from the Lord seek the glory of God. False teachers, on the other hand, seek their own glory. So let us exercise discernment whenever we sit under someone’s teaching or read an article by seeing if glory is being directed to God or man. Listen only to the one who seeks the glory of God.
Let us read John 7:19-24.
Having given a defence of His authority to teach, Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Jews. It is the Jews who are the lawbreakers. Although the law Moses had given them forbids murder, the Jews had sought to kill Jesus who had committed no crime.
The crowds are shocked at being accused of murder and retort that Jesus must be demon possessed. But who were the crowds trying to kid? They were seeking to kill Him in John 5:18 and they were breeding murderous intentions in their heart.
Next, Jesus exposes their double standard. When faced with the choice between keeping God’s command to circumcise a baby boy on the eighth day and keeping the Sabbath, the Jews always went ahead with circumcision.
Therefore, if the Jews could regularly set aside their traditions concerning the Sabbath in order for a baby boy to be counted amongst God’s people, surely they could celebrate Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus was actually showing them through the healing that He is the fulfilment of the Sabbath. He is the one who mends our brokenness and gives true rest.
Hence Jesus tells the Jews to stop judging things by appearances but to judge with right judgement. Instead of seeing a man carrying his mat on the Sabbath and jumping to the conclusion that he is in sin, they should investigate and celebrate the miracle that God has come to heal the sick and save the lost. God the Son was in their midst and yet they chose to look for a reason to reject Him.
This discourse highlights the spiritual blindness of the Jews. Even though they had the privilege of hearing Jesus teach and witnessed Him perform miracles, they did not embrace Him as Lord and Saviour. They allowed their traditions to hold them back from seeing the truths about Jesus. They were so hung up on tradition that they failed to exercise right judgment. Instead of recognising Jesus as God’s Son, they sought to find fault with His credentials and ministry.
Friends, there is an appropriate place for traditions. Give an honour where honour is due. But we must be careful to not let traditions blind us from seeing what God is doing today. We must continuously check our beliefs against Scripture and be so attuned to God’s voice that we will recognise Jesus if He were in our midst. We must ensure that Jesus is valued above tradition.
Are there any traditions or practices that keep us from seeing God at work? Do we value any traditions more than Christ?
May God’s Word and Spirit help us to judge rightly so that we will not miss seeing Jesus and the work that He is doing in our midst.
In this section in John 7:25-31, attention shifts to where Jesus is from. Some of the Jews thought they knew everything about Jesus and were quick to dismiss Him as the Christ. But Jesus shows them their ignorance by revealing where He really came from.
Jesus was not originally from Nazareth. Jesus came from heaven. Jesus has come directly from God and is divine. He is both fully man and fully God. Jesus knows God and He is the way the truth and the life. No one can know the Father except through Him.
Hence Jesus tells the Jews that their failure to know Him is proof that they actually do not know God. It is no wonder that the Jews were so upset. They had spent a lifetime acting all religious and thinking they were God’s favourite people. But Jesus drops the bomb, warning them that their refusal to believe in Him will keep them apart from God.
Jesus is the Christ we are to worship and adore.
This is why we must listen to Jesus. This is why we should put our faith in Him. Jesus is from God and has been sent by God to save us from our sins. Jesus is the Christ we are to worship and adore.
Those who accepted this truth, believed, whilst others took offense and sought to arrest Him.
The Pharisees and chief priests were very concerned that some people were starting to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ (John 7:32-36). And so they sent the temple officers to arrest Him.
Jesus however assures the officers that there is no need to forcibly remove Him. Jesus had already planned His departure.
You see, Jesus came not only to teach us how we can be saved but to secure our salvation by dying in our place. At the right time, Jesus will voluntarily give himself over to the officers so that He might be crucified as an innocent man. And after dying in the place of sinners, He will rise from the dead and return to heaven in victory.
Therefore, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, it will no longer be possible for the Jews to find Jesus on earth. Jesus will be physically in heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father.
John 7:35-36 reveal the inability of darkened minds to comprehend Jesus’ truths. The Jews grapple with Jesus’ statement “Where I am you cannot come”.
Jesus’ point is that only those who have believed in Him will be able to enter the kingdom of God and live with Him. Those who reject Christ will not be going to heaven because they remain in sin and under judgement.
Friends, belief in Jesus is not is inconsequential like choosing the flavour of ice-cream. Those who believe in Jesus will live with Him in paradise. Those who reject Jesus will remain in judgment for eternity. So let us not harden our hearts and delay putting out trust in Jesus. Let us call upon Jesus as Lord and Saviour while we can.
If you would like to know more about becoming a Christian, please chat with the person who invited you or any of our members. We would love to answer any questions you may have. Our prayer is for you to seek Jesus and find Him today so that you will have life in His name.
For those of us who are believers, we are reminded that not everyone we know will be in heaven. Only those who believe in Jesus will be saved. This is why we have an impetus to evangelise, to be missional and to plant churches. So let us press on in sharing the gospel with unbelievers before it is too late.
As we read John 7:37-39, it is helpful to know that the Feast of Booths included several components like a water pouring ceremony. Each day a golden flask was filled with water from the pool of Siloam and carried in a procession led by the High Priest back to the temple. The water was then offered to God as a reminder of His provision in the desert. The High Priest would also offer prayers for rain because by this time of year their cisterns would nearly be empty after the dryness of summer.
Therefore, Jesus chose a very significant moment to speak. After the people had witnessed the water pouring ceremony for 7 days, Jesus cried out that God has answered their prayers to provide water. John’s description of Jesus crying out serves to emphasise the significance of this announcement — Jesus is the fulfilment of what the water ceremony was pointing towards. He is the well of salvation whom the prophet had exhorted the people to draw from in Isaiah 12:3. Jesus is the water whom God invites the thirsty to drink from in Isaiah 55:1.
Jesus graciously invites everyone who thirsts to come to Him. He promises that whoever believes in Him will not only be satisfied but overflow with living water. Describing the waters He gives as living implies that it is life giving. It is not just water that we need to survive, but water that gives rise to a full and flourishing life.
In John 7:39, John explains that the living water refers to the Holy Spirit that God would pour out on His people in the latter days. As Jesus promised, after His return to heaven, He will send the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of every believer. The Holy Spirit will lead us in all truth and enable us to understand God’s Word and walk in His ways. The Holy Spirit will assure us of our salvation and help us to bear good fruit.
Friends, are you thirsty? Do you feel like you are living in a desert and just want to collapse or even cease to exist? Do you feel a longing inside you that cannot be met by worldly success, material comfort or even human companionship?
God alone can satisfy. God alone can resuscitate the dead. And Jesus tells us that He offers us Living Water that can bring healing and new life. All who are spiritually dead can be revived by the waters Jesus gives. Jesus promises abundant life through the Holy Spirit. All who confess Christ as Lord will be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will fill us with peace which surpasses understanding even as we face many trials. The Spirit will give us joy even as we live in a broken world and grapple with grief and disappointments. The Spirit will help us to pray when we know not what to say. The Spirit will keep us in fellowship with God and ensure that we will be ready when Christ returns.
So come, all you who are weary. So come all you who are thirsty. Come to Jesus and drink from the fount of living water.
Let us look at John 7:40-52 together.
Jesus’ declaration that He is the fount of living water drew mixed responses. Some believed He is the Christ that the Scriptures foretold. Others rejected Jesus because of their ignorance, not realising that Jesus was indeed an offspring of David and born in Bethlehem.
Interestingly enough, the officers that the leaders had sent refused to arrest Jesus. You see these officers were not your typical soldiers. They were Levites who had been set aside for service to God. Hence, they were religious men who had a fair bit of Scripture knowledge. They had been impacted by Jesus’ teaching and found it hard to blindly accept the religious authorities’ condemnation of Jesus. The Levites felt it was unconscionable to arrest Jesus who had declared that He is from God and is able to give Living Water.
Sadly, we see the ugliness of those opposed to Christ. The Pharisees mock the temple officials for being deceived. They insinuate that they are incapable of discerning the Scriptures and should simply accept the judgment of their leading theologians. If none of the religious authorities have accepted Jesus, how could they think otherwise. The Pharisees went as far as to call the crowd ignorant and curse them.
In contrast, Nicodemus speaks up. He reminds His colleagues that they ought to be giving Jesus a hearing and learning what He does before passing judgement. However they ridicule Him and decry that no prophet could come from Galilee. In reality, they were wrong. The prophets Jonah and Nahum were both from Galilee.
All this goes to show the irrationality of sin. When one’s heart is hardened, one cannot comprehend and receive God’s truths. Those who have hardened hearts reject God and spew lies. The shocking behaviour of the Pharisees and the way they ridiculed their flock and even a co-teacher like Nicodemus is a sobering picture of spiritual blindness. Those who cannot see Jesus as the Christ will remain under God’s judgement and even hurt others.
Have you judged Jesus with right judgement?
So friends, have you judged Jesus with right judgement?
In today’s text we saw how the various beliefs and traditions of the Jews kept them from judging rightly.
Instead of affirming Jesus’ commitment to glorify God, Jesus’ brothers saw a foolish prophet who was unwilling to do what it takes to succeed on the world stage.
Instead of being amazed by Jesus’ teachings and receiving His life giving Words, the Jews saw an unqualified teacher and dismissed Him as a fraud.
Instead of recognising Jesus as the Promised Saviour whom God had sent from heaven, the Jews saw a country bumpkin from Galilee and rejected Him.
Instead of finding healing, satisfaction and new life from the fount of Living Water, the religious authorities saw Jesus as a deceiver and sought His arrest.
Friends, who do you see in John 7? Do you see a fraud, a backwater preacher, a good man, or do you see the Christ, the Anointed Son of God who gives Living Water to all who are thirsty and in need of salvation?
Jesus tells us that He has been sent by God. He is divinely appointed by God to be our Saviour. Jesus speaks truth and His Words have authority because He is the Word of God who has taken on flesh. Jesus is from heaven and has returned to heaven. Therefore, He alone has the authority to decide who can enter heaven and dwell with Him.
Jesus offers Living Water that satisfies our thirst and greatest longings. He is the one who forgives sin and reconciles us to God. He is the one who gives us the Holy Spirit to lead us in all truth.
So let us judge with right judgement and embrace the glorious truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
Let us pray.