John 7:28-44

7:28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out [a forceful announcement; Jesus spoke with emotion and intensity], “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from [the people only knew earthly facts (about where Jesus was from geographically)]. I am not here on my own [Jesus had come because His Father had sent Him; cf. Jn.20:21], but he [the Father] who sent me is true [describes God’s faithfulness and dependability]. You do not know him,

7:29 but [unlike His doubters] I know [suggests relational knowledge] him because I am from him and he sent me.”

7:30 At this [at Jesus’ claim to be from God (considered blasphemy)] they [some in the crowd; those who rejected His messianic claim] tried to seize him [a spontaneous attempt to seize Jesus], but no one laid a hand on him, because [note that the underlying reason they were not able to seize Jesus was divine…] his time [the time appointed by the Father; refers to the time of Jesus’ passion] had not yet come [cf. Jn. 2:4; 7:8; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 17:1].

7:31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in [believed in] him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?”

7:32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees […the Sanhedrin] sent temple guards to arrest him [an official attempt to seize Jesus].

7:33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time [a reference to His coming death], and then I go to the one who sent me.

7:34 You [those who had been sent to arrest Jesus (7:32)] will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come [a reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection].”

7:35 The Jews [refers to Jesus’ opponents in particular, not to the Jews in general] said [they could only speculate about what Jesus meant] to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? [some speculated that Jesus intended to go to Jews living outside the land of Israel…] Will he go where our people live scattered [by previous deportations or commercial interests] among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks [signifies all non-Jews; Gentiles]?

7:36 What did he mean when he said, `You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and `Where I am, you cannot come’ [a reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection]?”

Note: What can you do to help others understand Jesus’ teachings?

7:37 On the last and greatest day [either the seventh day or the eighth day which was later added as a day on which to reflect on the feast] of the Feast [the Feast of Tabernacles (or “booths”) celebrated in our month of October], Jesus stood and said in a loud voice [so that everyone nearby could hear Him], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come [an invitation] to me and drink.

7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture [cf. Ezek. 47:9; Zech. 14:8; Isa. 12:3; 35:6] has said, streams of living water will flow from within him [a promise of abundant, unending life to one who believes in Jesus].”

7:39 By this he meant the Spirit [“living water” symbolized the Holy Spirit], whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given [the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) after the ascension of Jesus and continually abides in believers], since Jesus had not yet been glorified [refers to Jesus’ death and resurrection].

7:40 On hearing his words [His teachings in the temple (including what He had said about living water)], some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet [some thought Jesus was the prophet promised by Moses (Deut. 18:15) whom they expected to prepare the way for the Messiah].”

7:41 Others said, “He is the Christ [Gr. translation of Heb. word Messiah which means “Anointed One” (cf. Jn. 4:42; 7:26)].” Still others asked […as they tried to sort out what they knew about Jesus’ background as it related to their understanding of the Messiah], “How can the Christ come from Galilee?

7:42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem [cf. Ps. 89:3-4; 132:11; Isa. 9:6-7; 11:1; Micah 5:2], the town where David lived?”

7:43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.

7:44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.