“14 About the middle of the festival (Booths or Sukkot) Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were astonished at it, saying, ‘How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?’ 16 Then Jesus answered them, ‘My teaching is not Mine but His who sent Me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on My own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of Him who sent Him is true, and there is nothing false in him.
19 Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?’ 20 The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?’ 21 Jesus answered them,
‘I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.’
25 Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? 26 And here He is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? 27 Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where He is from.’ 28 Then Jesus cried out as He was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know Him. 29 I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.’ 30 Then they tried to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many in the crowd believed in Him and were saying, ‘When the Messiah comes, will He do more signs than this man has done?’
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about Him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest Him. 33 Jesus then said, 'I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to Him who sent me. 34 You will search for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.’ 35 The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does He mean by saying, ‘You will search for Me and you will not find Me’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’” John 7: 14-36.
This is a dramatic speech, a dramatic teaching of Jesus about who He is, who His Father is, and the glorification of Jesus when He returns to His Father: “I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to Him who sent me. 34 You will search for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come” John 7:33-34. Obviously this Galilean teacher, Jesus, comes into Jerusalem and provokes amazement and anger. Jesus first slips into Jerusalem unnoticed during Sukkot, but now He feels compelled to reveal Himself to the crowds and teach them about Himself and His Father. But how Jesus teaches is not how Rabbis teach; Rabbis always quote their senior rabbis, or Masters. Jesus instead says: “My teaching is not Mine but His who sent Me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on My own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of Him who sent Him is true, and there is nothing false in him” John 7:16-18. Here He clearly identifies that He is from God, meaning that He is the Son of God, or the long-awaited Messiah. This is blatantly blasphemous in Jewish law and the reason why they tried to arrest Him. But notice that Jesus is always in control of His life. He will allow Himself to be arrested only when it is the plan and will of His Father in heaven.
I know people who deliberately walk away from reading the Scriptures. They believe that when they die their life will disappear forever. They consider the Bible stories and fables that cannot be true. And so I appeal to you to pray for these good folks who do not realize the power of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Pray that God will surround them with people who know Him and love Him, people who will inspire them to pick up the Bible and read it and hear God speaking to them. Pray that they will be struck by these words of Jesus that appear above: “My teaching is not Mine but His who sent Me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on My own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of Him who sent Him is true, and there is nothing false in Him” John 7:16-18.
Oh dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Let me open my heart to You so that You may have Your way in my life. Help me to follow You faithfully. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
From the Bible:
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am’”
John 8:48.
“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God” John 20:28!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall le, from a distance, be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6.
“But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom” Hebrews 1:8.
““Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us) Matthew 1:23.
““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” Revelation 1:8.
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