John 7:1-53

The events recorded in John chapter 7 took place after those recorded in John chapter 6 and after many other events recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke (refer to Matthew 15:1 - 18:35; Mark 7:1 - 9:50; Luke 9:18-50).

John 7:1:

^7:1And after these-things Jesus walked in Galilee, for he did not intend to walk in Judea because the Judeans sought-after him to kill.

After the previous events, during that past time, historically, Jesus used to walk in Galilee. He was not intending (willing with active volition and desire) to walk in the area of Judea, which was south of Galilee - the cause being that the Judeans were looking for him to kill him.

[Reference: John 5:18.]

Verses 2-9:

^.2But the feast of the Judeans was near - the Tent-Pitching; ^.3therefore his brothers said towards him, "You must depart from-here and you must go into Judea in order that also your learning-disciples will view-with-attention your works which you do, ^.4for not-one-person does something in hiding and he seeks-after to be in boldness; if you do these-things you must manifest yourself to the world" - ^.5for neither his brothers believed into him. ^.6Therefore Jesus says to them, "The time, my (time) is not-yet present; but the time, your (time) is always prepared. ^.7The world is not able to hate you but it hates me because I witness concerning it that its works are evil. ^.8You must ascend into the feast; I do not ascend into this feast because my time was not-yet fulfilled²." ^.9But having said these-things he remained in Galilee.

The time of the Judean feast was close (the celebration of a certain festival) called Tent-Pitching (fastening, setting-up the covering or sheltering structures). This feast occurred in the year 27 A.D. and was also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, tents, or booths. It was celebrated as a memorial to the time when the children of Israel/Jacob dwelled in tents in the desert with Moses, around the beginning of October (15th Tishri in the Judean calendar), which was the time of gathering the final harvest produce from the earth (land, ground). This was one of the three feasts during which all the Judean/Israeli adult-males were obligated to be present in Jerusalem according to the law of Moses. Refer to Leviticus 23:34-43, Deuteronomy 16:13-16, II Chronicles 8:13, and Nehemiah 8:14-18.

Therefore his brothers said towards him (half-brothers because Mary was their mother also - Joseph was their father but God was Jesus' Father)...

• "You must depart from-here (change your direction from this location, move from being in this place)
• and you must go (it is imperative that you actively lead yourself under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else - go)
  • into Judea (the land of Judah, the region where the city of Jerusalem is located)
• for the purpose and result that also your learning-disciples (the students from all areas who will be in Jerusalem for the feast)
  • will view with attention (attentively view, contemplate in/with their minds)
  • your works (deeds, the things wrought, the end-products issuing from you, the effects produced with/by your actions expending your energy)
  • which you do (perform, make, produce),
• for nobody performs something in hiding (in a hidden manner being concealed from view by anyone else)
  • and emphatically he is seeking after (in Greek there is a definite word for “he” plus the verb meaning “he seeks-after” giving emphasis – he himself is looking)
    • to be within the sphere of action of boldness (freedom, frankness and openness of speech);
• if/since it is a fact that you do these-things
  • you must manifest yourself to the world (it is imperative that you evidence yourself, bring yourself to light, show yourself forth to/for the inhabitants of the world, not only those in this location but to everybody)"
    • - which may sound like a good idea or great advice, but John continues to explain why they said this to him -

...in truth, neither were his brothers believing into him (during that past time they were not having faith directed to Jesus, they were not trusting regarding what Jesus was saying and doing).

What did Jesus do after receiving such 'a good idea' or 'great advice' from his family? Did he immediately do what they suggested? Did he say, "Wow - thank you so much for telling me what I should do"? Let us read on and see how Jesus handled this situation.

Following-on logically from the previous verses, Jesus says to them...

• "The time (the specific time, precise period, opportune occasion, the season),
  • emphatically and specifically my time (mine),
  • is not-yet present (up until this moment my time is still not here, not being beside, near-by or alongside me);
• but the time,
  • emphatically and specifically your time (yours),
  • is always prepared (constantly your time is in the state of readiness, at all times it is ready - you can go to Jerusalem at any time).
• The world (referring to its inhabitants, as verse 4 above)
  • is not able to hate you (does not have the able-power, the capability to have active ill-will towards you, it is not capable of hating you)
• but it hates me because emphatically I witness (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” – I myself attest with information, give the declaration of knowledge that I personally have and therefore can state and confirm it on the strength of my own authority)
  • about the world
  • that its works (deeds, the things wrought, the end-products issuing from it, the effects produced with/by the actions of the people who belong to the world expending their energy)
    • are evil (active with malignancy, exercising badness).
• Emphatically you must ascend (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “you” – it is imperative that you yourselves mount, go upwards - Jerusalem is located on higher elevation than the surrounding areas)
  • into the feast;
• emphatically I myself am not presently and actively ascending into this feast (I am not going with you to manifest what I am doing to the world)
  • because emphatically my time (mine)
  • was not-yet fulfilled and continues not fulfilled (up until this moment the specific time for me to manifest myself to the world by going to Jerusalem is still not made-full, caused to be filled with the full-contents, filled-up, accomplished)."

After Jesus said these-things, emphatically he remained (stayed, continued) in Galilee.

[Reference: Leviticus 23:34-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-16; II Chronicles 8:13; Matthew 12:46, 13:55-58; Hebrews 8:1.]

Verse 10:

^.10But as his brothers ascended into the feast, then also he ascended - not manifestly but in hiding.

As his brothers went up to Jerusalem for the feast, at that time also emphatically he (Jesus) went up...

• not manifestly (not clearly and evidently so everyone would notice him)
• but on the contrary, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the feast in hiding (in a hidden manner being concealed from view by the Judeans who wanted to kill him, as written in verse 1 above - he ascended in a manner that was cryptic to/from other people so that they would not notice him).

This was the opposite way to what his brothers had suggest to him in verse 4 above. Jesus went to Jerusalem via the region of Samaria instead of the usual route for the Judeans living in Galilee to travel there, which was by crossing the Jordan river to avoid Samaria.

[Reference: Luke 9:51-62.]

Verses 11-13:

^.11Therefore the Judeans sought-after him in the feast and said, "Where is that-person?" ^.12And murmuring concerning him was much among the crowds - indeed the (people) said that, "He is a good-man" but other-people said, "No, but he causes the crowd to-wander." ^.13Yet-indeed not-one-person uttered-forth with boldness concerning him because-of the fear of the Judeans.

Following-on logically from verse 10 above, since the Judeans who traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem did not see Jesus - they spent time looking for him during the feast. They expected him to be there because it was one of the three feasts that required all Judean adult-males to attend in Jerusalem (refer to verse 2 above).

During that past time they were saying, "Where is that man?" Also, there was a lot of murmuring (grumbling discontent and complaint) about Jesus among the crowds...

• on the one hand, there were the people who were continuing to say that, "He is a good-man (he is behaving according to what is good, what issues from God, what is in accordance with God's will)"
• but on the other hand, there were other Judeans who were continuing to say, "No, but on the contrary he causes the throng of people to wander (he causes them to err, not to stay in their rightful place, leading them astray, like a planet is constantly moving around when viewed from the earth unlike the stars which retain their position relative-to each other)."

Emphatically indeed not one (none) of the people used to speak with boldness about him (with freedom, frankness and openness of speech, as verse 4 above) on account of the fear of the Judeans. They were afraid of what the Judeans who wanted to kill Jesus would do to them if they heard them discussing details about him.

Verses 14-19:

^.14But (during) the feast already being-in-the-midst Jesus ascended into the temple and taught. ^.15Therefore the Judeans marveled saying, "How did this-person know² writings not having learned²?" ^.16Therefore Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not my (teaching) but of the (One) having sent me. ^.17If-ever someone may intend to do His intention, he will know concerning the teaching whether it is out-from God or I utter-forth from myself; ^.18the (person) uttering-forth from himself seeks-after the glory, (his) own glory, but the (person) seeking-after the glory of the (One) having sent him this-person is true and unrighteousness is not in him. ^.19Moses gave² the law to you, didn't he? - (yes) - and not-one-person from you does the law! Why do you seek-after me to kill?"

While the feast was by this time in the middle (midway though it), Jesus went up into the Jerusalem temple and was teaching (instructing people with God's Word, he spent time giving them the correct doctrine).

Following-on logically during that past time while Jesus was teaching in the temple, the Judeans used to marvel (they were astonished, looking-on with wonder and amazement) saying...

• "How did this man know and continue to know (in what way/manner does he perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with his mind)
  • writings (the individual letters or characters written making-up one writing and then all the writings together are referred to as writings or scriptures, the physically written-down laws or precepts on scrolls, etc)
• not having learned and continuing not to learn (he has not received the teaching or instruction regarding the writings from us so as to become informed of it intellectually, knowledgeably and skillfully)?"

Therefore Jesus judicially replied to their question by saying...

• "Emphatically my teaching (mine)
  • is not mine (belonging to me, a man, a human-being)
  • but on the contrary, my teaching belongs to the One Who sent me (it proceeds from God, He is the source of it).
• If it should ever happen that someone would intend (will with active volition and desire)
  • to do His intention (to perform God's will, His active volition and desire),
• he will personally know (with a truly active and relative knowing, be personally knowledgeable) about the teaching
  • whether (which of the following 2 are true)
  • the teaching is originating from God (Who is Spirit)
  • or emphatically I utter-forth from myself (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” – I myself speak words that are away from my own intellectual thought process, uttering my own sounds, using my voice to say things coming from myself, a man, a human-being);
• the person who is speaking from himself is looking for the glory,
  • emphatically and specifically his own glory (the importance, splendor, renown pertaining to himself in manifestation, evidence, as an exhibition, demonstration, or illustration),
• but the person who is looking for the glory of the One Who sent him (the importance, splendor, renown which belongs-to and should be given to/for God Who sent Jesus)
  • this-person is true (this man has essential reality, inherent verity from God's viewpoint; this human-being has the quality of truth and is in the state of being true - Jesus speaks the truth)
  • and unrighteousness (injustice, unjustness, the state of being wrong, of not being just/right)
    • is not within his sphere of action (Jesus is behaving in a righteous manner carrying-out what God says).
• Moses gave the law to you and this fact has not changed,
  • didn't he?
  • - yes (the Greek construction of this question must receive an affirmative answer: "yes, Moses has given the law to us") -
• and nobody from among you does the law (none of you performs the things contained in the law, the precepts that God gave to Moses to give to God's people to carry-out during the everyday living of your lives)!
• Why are you looking for me to kill?"

Jesus was carrying-out the law according to God's intention - but many of the Judeans didn't like what he was saying or doing, even though they themselves did not obey the law. 

[Reference: Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18; John 4:34, 5:18 and 30, 6:38.]

Verses 20-24:

^.20The crowd answered, "You have a devil; who seeks-after you to kill?" ^.21Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work and all you marvel because-of-this. ^.22Moses gave² to you the circumcision - not that it is out-from Moses but out-from the fathers - and in (the) sabbath you circumcise a man; ^.23since a man receives circumcision in (the) sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be loosened, are you galled by me because I made a man whole (and) sound in (the) sabbath? ^.24You must not judge according to sight but you must judge (according to) the righteous judgment."

The throng of people answered Jesus by saying to him, "You have/hold a devil; who looks for you to kill?"

The word translated "devil" in verse 20 is the Greek word daimonion, which was used in Greek mythology (falsehoods) to describe supernatural intermediary beings between false-gods and men. In reality, these are the lower-ranking demons, evil spirits like 'privates' which take their direction from the higher-ranking evil spirits (daimon) in the devil's "army" which take their orders and direction from the chief or top-ranking devil-spirit himself who is the devil/satan.

Jesus answered and said to them...

• "I did one work (I performed a single deed; this is referring to what Jesus did when he was last in Jerusalem as recorded in John 5:1-20)
  • and all you marvel because of this (every one of you is astonished, you are looking-on with wonder and amazement on account of this work).
• Moses gave and continues given to you the circumcision (the cutting-around and removal of the foreskin, prepuce) -
  • not that it is originating from Moses
  • but on the contrary, circumcision originates from the fathers (forefathers, ancestors, from Abraham and his offspring descending down to Moses) -
• and during the sabbath you circumcise a man (a member of mankind, a human-being - usually done on the eighth day after the birth of a male child);
• since it is a fact that a man receives circumcision during the sabbath (circumcising someone is doing work)
• for the purpose and result that the law of Moses would not be loosened (loosen what was bound, unbind, unfasten, untie, in the sense of undoing or dismantling the law of Moses),
  • are you galled by me (are you bitter as bile against me, angry with resentment for me)
  • because I made a man whole and sound (entirely healthy, in good health, well)
  • during the sabbath (refer to John 5:9-16)?
• You must not judge according to sight (do not make a decision in judgment, pronounce sentence in accordance, conformity and proportion to/with appearance)
• but on the contrary, it is imperative that you are judging according to the righteous judgment (the just/right action of pronouncing sentence, the process of making a separating decision that is justified from God's viewpoint, passing the righteous judgment, the just decision being made in judgment - which belongs-to and proceeds-from God; refer to John 5:30)."

Notes:

Circumcision

Circumcision = the cutting-around of flesh. It is physically cutting the foreskin off from the rest of the male's flesh, thus separating and removing it from him, which necessitated the shedding of his blood while cutting, but afterwards being healed and not having to deal with that flesh anymore.

Circumcision among all the males of the descendants of Israel was originally asked by God to Abraham (“Abram” was his name before God changed it) as recorded in the Book of Genesis chapter 17. Let us read some verses from that chapter to get a better understanding of the passage in John.

Genesis 17:1-11 (KJV):

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Circumcision was the token of the covenant between God and Abraham (refer to Genesis chapter 17), and then was to be passed down to his seed (offspring). In later years, God gave laws and precepts to Moses for the children of Israel to follow. These were known as "the law" to God's people who were descendants of Abraham, and that law incorporated the sign of circumcision.

The casting-off of the flesh helped God's people look forward to the coming of the Christ and the redemption and salvation that he would accomplish which would allow them to receive holy spirit-life and not be limited to the flesh. Therefore, to be uncircumcised would mean that that male, and his family, did not want to be part of God's covenant; it would be a demonstration of his rejection of what God said, what God had promised Abraham and his seed.

The Judeans/Israelites became physically circumcised to demonstrate their adherence to the old covenant. The old covenant has been superseded by the covenant of spirit since the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2.

The sabbath

God had originally given the people information regarding what to do and what not to do on this day of rest, the seventh day of the week, so that the people would have the time and ability to worship and serve God. At this point in John, Jesus is reminding the people how they should behave on the sabbath.

[Reference: Genesis 2:2 and 3, 17:1-11; Exodus 12:44 and 48, 20:8-10, 23:12, 31:13-17; Leviticus 12:3, 25:2; Numbers 15:32-36; Deuteronomy 5:14 and 15; Jeremiah 17:19-27; Ezekiel 20:12 and 20; Matthew 12:1-13; John 5:1-22 and 30; Acts 7:8; Romans 2:25-29, 4:9-12; II Thessalonians 1:5; Hebrews 4:1-11. Also refer to the articles The devil, satan and evil, and Pentecost and holy spirit.]

John 7:25-31:

^.25Therefore some-people from the Jerusalemites said, "This-person is whom they seek-after to kill, isn't he? - (yes) - ^.26and look!, he utters-forth with boldness and they say nothing to him, lest-perhaps the rulers truly knew that this-person is the Christ! ^.27But we knew² from-where this-person is but the Christ, whenever he may come, not-one-person knows from-where he is."

^.28Therefore Jesus shouted in the temple teaching and saying, "Even me you knew² and you knew² from-where I am; and from myself I did not come² but the (One) having sent me is true, Whom you did not know²; ^.29I knew² Him because I am from Him and That-One apostled me."

^.30Therefore they sought-after him to apprehend, and not-one-person threw the hand on him because his hour had not-yet come; ^.31but out-from the crowd many-people believed into him and they said, "The Christ, whenever he may come, will not do more signs than which this-person did, will he?" - (no.)

Following-on logically from the previous verses, some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem were saying...

• "This-person is whom they (the Judean religious leaders) look for to kill,
  • isn't he? - yes (the Greek construction of this question must receive an affirmative answer: "yes, he is") -
• and look (behold, see - in the sense of calling attention - pay attention)!,
• he is speaking with boldness (freedom, frankness and openness of speech, as verse 13 above)
  • and they are saying not one thing to him (nothing),
  • lest-perhaps (whether or not, whether it may happen at any time or not, that)
    • the rulers (the people being chiefs over Judeans, those in a dignified hierarchical or first-placed position relative to other Judeans - referring to the religious leaders of the Sanhedrin which was Israel's ruling religious council)
    • truly knew (they personally knew with truth, with real certainty, in a true manner; this word "knew" is the Greek verb ginosko which means: to have a truly active and relative knowing, to be personally knowledgeable)
    • that this-person is the Christ (this man, human-being is the Anointed-one, the Messiah)!
• But contrary to the rulers,
• we knew and continue to know from what location this-person is (this word "knew" is the Greek verb oida which means: to perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with the mind, because it comes within the sphere of perception or circle of vision - we perceive where he is from with our minds, we know that place)
  • but the Christ,
    • at whatever time that he would come,
  • not-one-person knows from-where he is (here again this word "knows" is the Greek verb ginosko - none, nobody personally knows from what manner of action, how, from what source, from what place he is)."

These people said that they perceived what location Jesus was from - however, they did not personally know that he was the Christ but that the rulers may personally know the truth about him being the Christ.

Therefore Jesus shouted (cried-out) in the temple teaching (instructing) and saying...

• "Emphatically you knew and continue to know (perceive) me
• and you knew and continue to know (perceive) from what physical location I am;
• also emphatically from myself I did not come and continue to come (I am not the point of origin away from where/whom I came)
• but on the contrary, the One Who sent me (as verses 16 and 17 above)
  • is true (referring to God, his Father - He is the One Who is true, emphasizing that God’s quality and essence is trueness, His consistency is truth, He is the actual, certain, real, genuine True-Being – as opposed to a copy such as the false, fictitious, unreal gods, the idols; the only true God is the source of truth, the essential reality, the inherent verity - not the rulers or someone they or the people may claim to truly know, as suggested by the people in verses 26 and 27 above),
• Whom emphatically you did not know and continue not to know (you yourselves do not perceive God);
• emphatically I knew and continue to know Him (I myself perceive God, the One Who sent me)
  • because I am from Him (the cause being that I presently and actively am from God whereby He is the source from Whom I exist)
  • and That-One apostled me (sent me forth/away on this specific mission or assignment)."

Therefore during that past time, historically, the people were looking for Jesus to apprehend (catch, seize), and nobody threw (cast) his hand on Jesus because his hour had not-yet come (the limited period of time pertaining to Jesus being apprehended was not and still continued not to have come from its starting point towards its ending point of accomplishment). Jesus was not apprehended at that time, even though the people were seeking to catch him.

However, from among the throng of people, a lot of them believed into him (they had faith directed to Jesus, they trusted regarding him, what he was saying and doing, whereby he was the object of their belief) and they were saying...

• "The Christ (the Anointed-one, the Messiah),
  • at whatever time that he would come,
• will not do more signs (will not perform, make, produce comparatively a bigger quantity and quality of designated signals or standards of authentication, showing or proving authenticity)
  • than which this man did (this human-being performed),
  • will he?"
    • No! The Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is "No."

[Reference: John 5:36-38, 6:29 and 57.]

Verses 32-36:

^.32The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these-things concerning him, and the chief-priests and the Pharisees apostled assistants in order that they may apprehend him. ^.33Therefore Jesus said, "Yet a small time I am with you and I go towards the (One) having sent me. ^.34You will seek-after me and you will not find (me), and where I am you are not able to come." ^.35Therefore the Judeans said towards themselves, "Where is this-person about to journey that we will not find him? He is not about to journey into the scattering of the Greeks and to teach the Greeks, is he? - (no), ^.36what is this word which he said, 'You will seek-after me and you will not find (me), and where I am you are not able to come'?"

When the Pharisees heard the throng of people continuing to murmur these things (grumbling discontent and complaints) about him...

• both the chief/high priests (this refers to the high priest plus the other priests who were members of the Sanhedrin which was Israel's ruling religious council)  
• and the Pharisees (one of the leading religious groups of Judah/Israel claiming to know and teach others about God and the old covenant writings)
  • apostled assistants (sent attendants serving in subservience to them doing their will forth/away on a specific mission or assignment; the word “assistants” literally means: under-rowers, ordinary sailors on a ship who are in subordination and act/serve under the immediate direction of their captain)
    • for the purpose and result that they would apprehend him (catch, seize Jesus).

Following-on logically from that event, Jesus said...

• "For still a small amount of chronological time (a little length of time lasting for a particular duration, a short quantity of time)
• I am in company and association with you
  • and I am going (actively leading myself under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else - I go)
  • towards the One (God) Who sent me.
• You will in the future look for me and you will not find me,
• and where emphatically I am (in/at the location that I myself am at that time)
• emphatically you are not able to come (you yourselves do not have the ability, the able-power to come, you are not capable of going, you cannot come to where I am)."

Therefore the Judeans (those of the Judean background, no distinction being placed on their various roles or social status) said towards themselves...

• "Where is this-person (man, human-being) on the point of journeying (of passing from this location to a different location, somewhere else)
  • that emphatically we will not find him (we ourselves won't locate him)?
• He is not about to journey into the scattering of the Greeks (to pass or travel to the Judeans who are part of the diaspora, dispersion, as a sower would scatter seed upon the earth, who are living in any part of the world away from Jerusalem where the Hellenists, the Greek-speaking people of the Gentile background are located)
• and to teach the Greeks (instruct people who are not of the Judean/Israeli background),
  • is he? -
    • no! (the Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is "no"),
• what is the meaning of this word (the spoken-account containing individual words constituting what he spoke)
  • which he said, 'You will seek-after me and you will not find me, and where I myself am you yourselves are not able to come (as verse 34 above)'?"

Verses 37-39:

^.37But in the last day, the great (day) of the feast, Jesus had stood and he shouted saying, "If-ever someone may thirst he must come towards me and he must drink - ^.38the (person) believing into me - according as the writing says, 'Rivers of living water will flow out-from his belly.'"

^.39But he said this concerning the spirit which the (people) having believed into him were about to receive, for there was not-yet spirit because Jesus was not-yet glorified.

During the last day (the more remote, uttermost, final or extreme day), emphatically the great day (large with importance because it was the seventh day; refer to Leviticus 23:34-36) pertaining to the feast referred to in verse 2 above, Jesus had stood and continued to stand and he cried-out saying...

• "If it should ever happen that someone would be thirsty
  • it is imperative that he would come (be presently going) towards me
  • and he would drink -
    • specifically the person who is presently and actively believing into me (having faith directed to me, trusting regarding me, what I am saying and doing, whereby I am the object of the person's belief) -
• according as the writing (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that the old covenant scripture) says,
  • 'Rivers (streams)
    • of living water (the word “living” is a verb in participle form singular - water that is alive)
  • will flow (move, pour, gush)
    • originating from his belly (his inner-parts, from inside of Jesus himself outwards to the believers who are drinking).'"

John the writer of this book explains that Jesus said this about the spirit (one spirit) which the people who have believed into Jesus during that past time, historically, were on the point of receiving (of taking the object - spirit - which would be given to them to use at a time future to when Jesus said this). In truth, up until that time when Jesus spoke there still was not spirit available to be given to the believing people because also Jesus still was not glorified (given importance, splendor, renown) by God in connection with eternal life spirit.

The gift of holy spirit, which is the spirit of Christ, could not be available until after Jesus had accomplished redemption and salvation for mankind. It was first made available on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2. The water of life refers to this holy spirit-life, eternal life. Drinking from the living water (water of life) is receiving the flowing or communication giving the way of behaving in accordance with holy spirit-life, holy spirit in manifestation.

[Reference: Leviticus 23:34-43; Numbers 29:12-39; Isaiah 12:3, 44:3, 55:1; Joel 2:28 and 29; John 4:10-14, 6:53-58; Acts 1:5 and 8, 2:1-4, 16-18 and 33; I Corinthians 12:7-13; Revelation 22:17. Also refer to the article Pentecost and holy spirit.]

Verses 40-44:

^.40Therefore out-from the crowd having heard these words, they said, "This-person truly is the prophet." ^.41Other-people said, "This-person is the Christ." But the (other-people) said, "For the Christ does not come out-from Galilee, does he? - (no), ^.42the writing said that out-from the seed of David and from Bethlehem the village where David was the Christ comes, doesn't it?" - (yes.) ^.43Therefore a division became in the crowd because-of him, ^.44and some-people from them intended to apprehend him but not-one-person threw the hands on him.

Following-on logically from verses 37 and 38 above, some from among the throng of people who heard those words spoken by Jesus, were saying, "This-person truly is the prophet (with truth, real certainty, in a true manner this man, human-being, is the prophet foretold by Moses who would come into the ordered-arrangement that God created, the one who would speak-forth God's words being revealed to him concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of a person or people; this is a reference to Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18)."

Others among the people were saying, "This-person is the Christ (the Anointed-one, the Messiah)."

But some other people were saying...

• "In truth, the Christ does not come originating from Galilee,
  • does he? - no! (the Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is "no" - he does not come from Galilee),
• the writing (old covenant scripture of Micah 5:2) said that
• out-from the seed of David (King David's offspring, posterity)
• and from Bethlehem the village (the hamlet in the open countryside without walls) where David was (the location that he lived in)
  • the Christ comes,
  • doesn't it?"
    • Yes! The Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is "Yes, the writing says this."

Therefore a division became (a schism or partition came to pass, a splitting as tearing a garment apart happened) among/between the throng of people on account of Jesus.

Also during that past time, some of the people from the crowd were intending to apprehend him (they were willing with active volition and desire to catch or seize him), but contrary to that occurring - nobody cast their hands on him.

[Reference: I Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 89:3 and 4; Jeremiah 23:5; Micah 5:1 and 2; Matthew chapter 1 and 2:1-6 and 22; Luke 2:4-7, 3:23-28; John 6:14; Acts 13:22 and 23; Romans 1:3; II Timothy 2:8.]

Verses 45-52:

^.45Therefore the assistants came towards the chief-priests and Pharisees, and they said to those-people themselves, "Because-of-what did you not lead him?" ^.46The assistants answered, "A man never uttered-forth thus." ^.47Therefore the Pharisees answered them, "You were not also caused-to-wander², were you?, ^.48someone from the rulers did not believe into him, or from the Pharisees, did he? - (no) - ^.49but the crowd, this (crowd), the (crowd) not knowing the law are cursed."

^.50Nicodemus says towards them, the (person) having come formerly towards him, one being from them, ^.51"Our law does not judge the man if-ever it may not firstly hear from him and may know what he does, does it?" ^.52They answered and said to him, "You are not also out-from Galilee, are you? - (no), you must search and see that a prophet is not raised-up out-from Galilee!"

Following-on logically from the previous verses, the assistants (attendants, as verse 32 above) went towards the chief-priests and Pharisees, and they said to the assistants themselves...

• "Because-of-what (on account of what, for what reason, why)
• did you not lead him (bring, direct, conduct, convey him here to us)?"

The assistants answered, "At no time did a man (not at any time did a human-being) speak in this manner." These assistants would have heard many people speak in the temple area previously - but in their viewpoint Jesus spoke in a different manner.

Therefore the Pharisees answered them...

• "Emphatically you were not also caused to wander and continue to wander (you yourselves were not caused to err, not to stay in your rightful place, you were not led astray, as verse 12 above),
  • were you?,
• someone from among the rulers (any of the religious leaders, as verse 26 above)
  • did not believe into him (have faith directed to Jesus, trust regarding him)
• or from among the Pharisees,
  • did he? -
    • no! (the Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is "no") -
• but contrary to what the rulers and Pharisees believe,
  • the crowd (throng of people),
    • emphatically and specifically this crowd, the same crowd who do not personally know (who do not have a truly active and relative knowing, who are not personally knowledgeable of)
    • the law (referring to the precepts that God gave to Moses to give to God's people to carry-out during the everyday living of their lives)
  • are cursed (people on whom a prayer or supplication for something harmful to come to pass regarding them has occurred, an imprecation against them has happened, an invocation for something which would be harmful to the recipient has come to pass on them)."

That was their opinion of the people who were believing into Jesus!

However, Nicodemus - the man who had come formerly (before, previously, firstly, prior to this time) towards Jesus, as recorded in John 3:1-12, and who was one from among the rulers of the Judeans and also a Pharisee - says towards them...

• "Our law does not judge the man (does not make a decision, pronounce sentence regarding a human-being)
  • if it should happen at any time that
  • it would not firstly hear from him (first in place or order listen to him whereby that man is the source of the information regarding the matter)
  • and it would personally know what he does (the thing that he performs),
    • does it?"
    • [The Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is: "No."]

However, the chief-priests and Pharisees answered and said to Nicodemus...

• "Emphatically you are (you yourself are)
• not also originating from Galilee (as Jesus and some of the people in this crowd are from that location),
  • are you? -
    • no! (the Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is "no"),
• you must search (it is imperative that you track or trace, as a child traces a picture or drawing from a book by using semitransparent tracing paper and a pencil)
• and you must see (perceive with your eyes and understand the object-of-sight in your mind's thoughts - which is) that
  • a prophet (a person who speaks-forth God's words being revealed to him concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of, a person or people)
  • is not raised-up (does not arise)
  • originating from Galilee!"

[Reference: Deuteronomy 1:16 and 17, 28:15; II Kings 14:25 (Jonah the prophet was from the area of Galilee); John 3:1-12, 19:39. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

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The verses of John 7:53 - 8:11 are either omitted or placed in various locations in the Book of John according to the Greek texts and other manuscripts. If these verses are authentic, John 7:53 and 8:1 would be placed together, and the next record begins in John 8:2-11.

John 7:53 - 8:1:

^7:53And they journeyed each-person into his house, ^8:1but Jesus journeyed into the Mount of Olives.

Each individual passed from temple to the houses that they were staying in at that time. However, Jesus did not stay within the city of Jerusalem during the night, but passed into the Mount of Olives located on the east side of Jerusalem.

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John Chapter 8