Dear Friends,
John 6 took place around the time of Passover, about two-and-a-half years after Jesus began his ministry. John now skips ahead six months to bring us to the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot (lit booths). This marks three years from the time Jesus began his ministry. We are now only six months away from the cross. Jesus knows that come next Passover, He will be crucified for the sins of the world. He knows that three days later, He will be resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits.
Father, give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
John 7:1-20
1 After these things [after Chapter 6, for six months] Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
The Jews means the Jewish religious leaders, the Pharisees. This is what their religious leagalism has led them to. Atheist H L Mencken described Puritanism as “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” I do not necessarily agree with Mencken’s assessment, but it is true the Puritans were infamously legalistic. For example, they were known to place a man in the stocks just for kissing his wife on the sabbath. The Pharisees, on the other hand, made the Puritans look like a bunch of laid-back surfers. What enraged the Pharisees and drove them to murder was the fact that Jesus healed people on the sabbath. They twisted what should have been cause for great joy and celebration into a capital offense. Pharisees take the fun out of just about everything. Case in point, the Feast of Tabernacles:
2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
The Feast of Tabernacles was supposed to be a time of joy. The feast commemorated the wilderness wanderings and how God provided for them during this time. Prophetically, the feast points to the millennium. During this feast, seventy-five-foot-tall menorahs were erected in the Court of the Women. These menorahs were fueled by oil and used old robes entwined together for wicks. The flames could be seen for miles. People set up sukkahs, or booths, made from palm branches and camped out for the week (Lev 23:42). Instead of spending the feast rejoicing like they should have, however, the Pharisees were plotting to have Jesus killed. They were indignant that their law, or rather their misinterpretation of it, had been broken. The people were walking on eggshells, fearful of saying anything about Jesus that might upset the Pharisees (v 13).
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
4 For 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.
5 For neither did his brethren believe in him. [Cf Ps 69:8]
Contrary to the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, Mary had a normal marriage with Joseph after Jesus was born. Jesus had half-brothers and half-sisters. (Matt 13:55f) Jesus’ brothers James and Judas both wrote Books of the Bible: The General Epistle of James and The General Epistle of Jude. In fact, James was a top leader in the early church. It was James who made the final decision at the first church council in Acts 15:13-21. I have always wondered about this brother in particular because I have always read and heard it taught that the apostle James, the son of Alphaeus, is James the less, but by comparing Matthew 13:55 to Mark 15:30, it seems plain to see that James the Lord’s brother is James the less. Something to think about.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John wrote that the whole world lieth in wickedness (1 John 5:19b). Tell the truth about election fraud, COVID fraud, human trafficking, or any of the other evil things that take place in this world and the world hates you, or rather Christ in you. It is not really you that they hate, but Chist in you.
8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
Jesus’ knowledge of the Scriptures and his relationship with his Father made Him acutely sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is following the prophetic schedule.
9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
10 ¶ But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
12 And 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.
Verse 12 shows how Jesus causes division (cf v 40; Matt 15:35). The people were divided as to who Jesus was but they seemed to only hold to two possibilities, one of which is not even an option. To say that Jesus is merely a good man is a non sequitur. Considering all the division that has been caused and all the blood that has been spilled in the name of Christ, who claimed to be God (John 8:58; cf 14:6), if He is not really who He said He is then He is anything but a ‘good’ man. As John Duncan observed in the nineteenth century (before Nee or Lewis), Jesus is either a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. These are the only three options.
13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
Does this sound familiar? Having to watch what you say for fear you might lose your job, your social media account, or get doxxed and have your house attacked? Pharisees take many forms and they are always bullies.
14 ¶ Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
Here in verse 14, Jesus shows us how to handle Pharisees. When you have the truth, shout it from the housetops. (Matt 10:27)
15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18 He 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.
19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
John 7:1-20
I believe the Pharisees were [t]he people to whom Jeses was speaking, not the common people. It was the Pharisees who were trying to kill Him, not the common people. (Mark 12:37) What is worse than a bully? A bully with the power to enforce his will on others and practice his hypocrisy with impunity. That is what a Pharisee is. Going about to kill Him is exactly what they were doing. They accused Jesus of having a devil but they are the ones with a lying spirit, or worse. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren. (Rev 12:10) Is it possible that it was Satan himself who provoked them to accuse Jesus? Regardless, this is what Jesus called the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, purposely healed people on the sabbath, setting them free from the Pharisees’ misinterpretation of the Torah, or law. The Pharisees would have none of this. They attributed these works of the Holy Spirit to Satan, saying Jesus had a devil. Here is what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not: It is not cussing at God in a moment of anger. It is not calling the Holy Spirit a bad name. In fact, if you think that you have committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, surely you have not. That thought never even occurred to the Pharisees. They rejected the idea that Jesus was their Messiah. They refused to entertain the idea that Jesus worked his miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. They were very confident that their interpretation of the law was correct. They were confident in their belief that they were righteous because they kept the law. Therefore, the only way to commit the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to be so sanctimonious that you are certain you have no need for Jesus; to be so wise in your own conceit that you regard Jesus as an interloper who should mind his own business. If that’s you, then yes, you have committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. However, I have serious doubts that even such a person as that could not be forgiven if he repents. The problem is, such people are so conceited that they will not consider repenting.
…..Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Proverbs 26:12
Hence, the problem with the world today. The common man in the twenty-first century regards the idea that Jesus is the only way to be an abomination. Despite all that Jesus has done for us, despite all the evidence that the Bible is true (see previous notes on the bread of life), the world has rejected Jesus Christ. Those who have erred in this fashion are headed for trouble and suffering the likes of which the world has never seen. The Hundred Years War is going to make the great tribulation period look like a cakewalk. Yet, Jesus’ hand is stretched out still.
So, if the Pharisees were wrong for fixating on the law, what is the answer? Are Christians not supposed to obey the ten commandments? It’s true that Christians are not supposed to sin, but if we were not sinners we would not need Jesus. Christians are to focus on Jesus, not the law, for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Cor 3:6b) Jesus is a friend of sinners. (Thank God!) As Christians, we are to reject sin, but we should try to err on the side of grace. The law says, Stone the sinner with stones. The Holy Spirit says Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
No one except Jesus has ever kept the law. The law was only given to prove to us that we need Jesus. (Rom 3:20ff) If you have not yet received Him, it’s time. Jesus is so good, and his Spirit is so good, and his Father is so good. I do not know what else I can say except to beg you to please consider what is going to happen when you stand before Jesus someday. Simply pray and ask Him to forgive you for your sin. Invite Him into your heart and see what happens. Taste the living water. You will never thirst again. What have you got to lose?
Father, forgive me. I receive your Son as my personal Saviour; Lord Jesus, please come into my heart. Take control of my life. Thank you for the precious blood you shed for me on Calvary. I pray this in your holy and precious name. Amen.
Prophecy Update: Watching world events of late has been nothing short of mind-numbing. For students of prophecy, however, these things indicate our blessed hope is drawing nigh. In previous posts, I warned that more cyber attacks are coming, all by design. Recently, we saw one of the major conduits of energy that fuels the US infrastructure, the West Coast Pipeline, hit with a cyber attack. Now, we have a cyber attack on what fuels our bodies, the beef industry. Just as many cults deprive their victims of protein-rich meat (brain food), the cult of the new world order is suppressing our meat consumption. This is just one of the many different ways that the new world order weakens the public’s resolve and makes people more pliable. It’s all part of Agenda 2030. Meanwhile, the media continues to grease the skids for the strong delusion (2 Thess 2:11).
COVID Update: The current situation with vaccines experimental gene therapy eclipses all other news items. I believe the population reduction these shots will cause through infertility, deaths, and shortened life spans will be nothing short of apocalyptic. Massive numbers of doctors are dying in India but the media reports the cause as COVID, saying they were not “fully” vaccinated. As deaths pile up around the globe (like Oracle’s VP Joel Kallman) because of the ‘vaccines’, the country that led the world in ‘vaccine passports’, Israel, has scrapped the program because of myocarditis cases that have been linked to the jabs. Despite the horrible consequences of Operation Warp Speed that keep coming to light, Trump still clings to his claim that he saved millions of lives with Warp Speed. I think it is plain to see that no earthly leader is coming to the rescue. Thankfully, Jesus is coming.
As the official mainstream media narrative collapses, top scientists, like former CDC Chief Redfield, who are willing to entertain the lab-leak explanation are getting death threats. Danish authorities have shut down access to Bitchute in an attempt to suppress the truth. With Fauci’s emails now released, laying bare his criminality, and with his book being pulled from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, the mainstream media is still desperately attempting to prop up Fauci’s reputation with puff interviews. Bill Gates, on the other hand, has been uncharacteristically silent. A candid look at the situation with Fauci and what the ‘vaccines’ are doing to people can be seen here. Meanwhile, The Lancet has created a task force to investigate the lab-leak claims facts, appointing one of the main people behind the funding of the Wuhan lab for gain-of-function research to head up the investigation.
Magog Update: Two recent attacks on Iran look like the work of Israel, raising tensions between Iran (Persia) and Israel. Now that Netanyahu has been ousted, Israel’s presumptive Prime Minister is very controversial. If he is as inept as some say, it would make the Magog scenario more attractive to the belligerents on the Magog (Russian) side. Meanwhile, the US continues attempts to dissuade their supposed NATO ally, Turkey (Togarmah), from using Magog’s missile technology.
