Today’s scripture:
John 7:37-52
 
Jesus was at feast of tabernacles.  This was instituted to remember how the Lord provided for the Israelites in the wilderness after they had escaped Egypt.

One of the ceremonies they would preform would include them taking a golden pitcher and filling it with water from the Pool of Siloam.  Then they would carry this water back to the temple and give it to the priests who would pour it over the altar.  This is the picture surrounding the words Jesus says.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38)
 
The religious leaders of the day wanted to have a lock on salvation.  Jesus wants to change that.  He is opening it up to everyone. Jesus uses the words “anyone” and “whoever.”

The people were divided on who Jesus was.
On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. (John 7:40-43)
 
John has made it clear throughout this book that Jesus’ true origins are in heaven.  Although Jesus has always existed, he body did have a physical beginning. And that physical beginning was in Bethlehem.  So the people did not know the whole story.

Jesus was also a descendant of King David.  You can that in both of his genealogies both from Mary and Joseph’s side.  Joseph’s side is found in Matthew chapter one, and Mary’s side is found in Luke chapter 3. But really the people were focused on the wrong issue.

The religious leaders had sent the temple guars to arrest Jesus but they return empty handed.

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. (John 7:45-46)
 
Out of frustration these leaders insult the crowd.
“Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” (John 7:48-49)
 
Nicodemus who had visited Jesus earlier points out the great irony that they curse the people who do not know the law and they clearly do know the law.  But are willing to ignore it so that they might condemn an innocent man to death.

It’s not about where you came from, it’s about where you are going.  What is in your past today that you need to let go of.  Leave it behind so that you can focus on what God has for you now and in the future.

Discussion Questions
1 What is in your past that you are proud of?  What is in your past that you are embarrassed about?

2 When you meet someone new what is it that you want to know about their background? Where they came from?  Where they went to school?  Who their parents are?

3 (Read John 7:37-44) What festival are they talking about?  Why did the Jews celebrate that festival?  What was special about the water used in that festival?
4 What did Jesus mean when he said “rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

5 Who did Jesus make the invitation to in verses 37 & 38? What does this tell you?  Why would the religious leaders be incensed about this?

6 What was it that the people were arguing over?  Why were they wrong? Is Jesus related to King David?  How do we know?

7 (Read John 7:45-52) Why did the temple guards return without have arrested Jesus?  What was their excuse?

8 In verse 48 what reason do the leaders give for the proof that Jesus was a fraud?  Why did they claim that the crowd had a curse of them?

9 Who was it that questioned the way the religious leaders were handling the situation?  What was that man’s background?

10 Extra Credit:  What prophet(s) if any came from Galilee?