Living Water
When Jesus was in Jerusalem, He proclaimed that He was the Living Water which was observed the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles.
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25. The people who lived in Jerusalem “had a totally different perspective from the crowd of 7:20 because they knew that the establishment was bent on killing Jesus (cf. 5:18; 7:1).” (Borchert, Gerald L., The New American Commentary Volume 25A, John 1-11. [Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002], 285)
26. “It appears to the Jerusalemites that they may have received the wrong impression about Jesus, and perhaps the authorities had gained insider information that Jesus may indeed have been the Messiah (Christ).” (Borchert, 285)
27. “Only information regarding Messiah’s birthplace was revealed in Scripture (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:5-6). Beyond that, a tradition had developed in Jewish circles that Messiah would appear suddenly to the people, based on a misinterpretation of Isaiah 53:8 and Malachi 3:1.” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1380)
28. “They knew Him in the earthly sense, but not in the spiritual sense, because they didn’t know God either.” (MacArthur, 1381)
29. “He was not simply born into this world like any other human.: He was sent to earth by the Father. This means that He existed before He was born on the earth.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 317)
Not His Hour
30. “It’s interesting that even though they were anxious to take Jesus, they couldn’t touch Him until His hour had come.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 412)
31. “Divided conviction existed among the people regarding Jesus. While some wanted to seize Him, a small remnant of genuine believers existed among the crowds. The question here anticipates negative answer, i.e., the Messiah could do no greater kinds of miracles than those Jesus had done.” (MacArthur, 1381)
32. “The rulers sent members of the temple guard to arrest Jesus, but it was Jesus who ‘arrested’ them! He warned them that they had but ‘a little while’ to hear the truth, believe, and be saved (see John 12:35ff.).” (Wiersbe, 317)
33. Jesus answered the guards; Hey guys, I’m only going to be here a little while longer, then I will go see my Father.
34. “Jesus referred here to His return to His heavenly origin with His Father after His Crucifixion and Resurrection.” (MacArthur, 1381)
35. The Jews questioned each other about where Jesus would go.
36. “John again highlights the ignorance of the Jews regarding Jesus’s words. The words were spoken to mock Jesus.” (MacArthur, 1381)
Living Water
37. “Jesus was referring to the experience of Israel recorded in Exodus 17:1-7. That water was but a picture of the Spirit of God. Believers would not only drink the living water, but they would become channels of living water to bless a thirsty world.” (Wiersbe, 317)
“A tradition grew up in the few centuries before Jesus that on the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, a golden container filled with water from the pool of Siloam was carried in procession by the high priest back to the temple.” (MacArthur, 1381)
38. “Water for drinking is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. (Water for washing is a symbol of the Word of God; see John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26). Just as water satisfies thirst and produces fruitfulness, so the Spirit of God satisfies the inner person and enables us to bear fruit.” (Wiersbe, 318)
“The water-pouring rite was also associated within Jewish tradition as a foreshadowing of eschatological rivers of living water foreseen in Ezekiel 47:1-9 and Zechariah 13:1.” (MacArthur, 1381)
Jesus “was the One who provided the living water that gives eternal life to man. (cf. 4:10-11).” (MacArthur, 1381)
39. “The Holy Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus was not yet glorified. The Holy Spirit did not come until the Day of Pentecost.” (McGee, 413)
40-42. “Is He the promised ‘Prophet’ (Deuteronomy 18:15)? If only they had honestly examined the evidence, they would have discovered that, indeed, He was the Christ, the Son of God. They identified Jesus with Galilee (John 1:45-46; 7:52) when in reality He was born in Bethlehem.” (Wiersbe, 318)
43-44. “The people were divided: some defended Him and some wanted to arrest Him.” (Wiersbe, 318)
The Prophet
45. “The temple officers returned to the Jewish council meeting empty-handed.” (Wiersbe, 318)
46. “The officers failed in their attempt to arrest Jesus when they were confronted with His person and powerful teaching. Since they were religiously trained, Jesus’ words struck at their very heart.” (MacArthur, 1382)
47. “We should not be surprised when ‘the intelligentsia’ refuses to trust Jesus Christ, or when religious leaders reject Him. God has hidden His truth from ‘the wise and prudent’ and revealed it to ‘spiritual babes,’ the humble people who will yield to Him (Matthew 11:25-27).” (Wiersbe, 318)
48-49. The Pharisees’ “generally considered the common people to be incapable of understanding the law.” (Borchert, 293)
“For Jesus the people were objects of his ministry, and it was the group of elitists who received stinging judgment from him. (cf. John 9:39-41; 10:7-15). (Borchert, 293)
50-51. “Nicodemus was sure that the council was not giving Jesus an honest hearing. The rulers had already passed judgment and were trying to arrest Him before He had even been given a fair and lawful trail! (Exodus 23:1; Deuteronomy 1:16-17; 19:15-21).” (Wiersbe, 318)
52. “If he [Nicodemus] would fulfill his task (scrutinize the Scripture), they argued, he would quickly discover that no prophet was to come from Galilee. Technically on this reading the council members were incorrect because Jonah came from Gath-hepher in Galilee (2 Kings 14:25; cf. the Son Amittai, Jonah 1:1). (Borchert, 294)
Invite Jesus
53. “No one invited Jesus into his home. It was a feast night, but Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives. As far as we know, He never spent a night in Jerusalem.” (McGee, 414)
“How about you, my friend? Do you go to your own home and leave Jesus out in the cold? Or have you accepted His wonderful invitation so that you live in the love and light of His presence?” (McGee, 414)
References
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.
Borchert, Gerald L., The New American Commentary Volume 25A, John 1-11. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004