In today's session, we'll explore the heart of Jesus's mission—discovering his profound humility, his incredible
love for sinners, and the remarkable way he delivers people from their own self-destructive longings.
John 7:1-25
After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill
him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that
your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly.
If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to
them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me
because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for
my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee. But after his brothers had gone up
to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and
saying, “Where is he?” And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good
man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.
About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled,
saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching
is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is
from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own
glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not
Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You
have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses
gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the
Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you
angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with
right judgment.” Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill?
Secrecy
Humility
Love
Authority
Dangerous Desires
The Feast
Why did Jesus prefer to be a laughing stock rather than compromise to be liked?
What sort of person loves even those who hate him?
Why did Jesus speak with such authority?
Are you prepared to hear uncomfortable truths about yourself?
Do our natural desires always lead to our good?
Why did the biblical writers leave difficulties or seeming contradictions in their
accounts?
Express heartfelt gratitude to God for sending his Son and for the remarkable love and humility Jesus
demonstrated. Ask God to reveal where your desires may be leading you astray and to cultivate within you a
receptive heart for his truth. Invite him to deepen your trust in Jesus and help you recognize the divine
authority he holds over all creation.
God Crushed Jesus Christ to Save Wretched Sinners
Jesus and His Active Obedience
The Unconditional Love of Christ
Did Jesus Lie?
How to Deal with Seeming Contradictions
The Unparalleled Humility of Jesus
Embracing the Claims of Christ
The Authority of Jesus