Sun
Apr 20
1. THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE IN JESUS
a. Upon hearing and seeing Jesus preach openly, what did some Jews ask? John 7:25, 26.
“Many among Christ’s hearers who were dwellers at Jerusalem, and who were not ignorant of the plots of the rulers against Him, felt themselves drawn to Him by an irresistible power. The conviction pressed upon them that He was the Son of God.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 457.
b. How did Satan act upon the rulers to trigger doubt? John 7:27.
“Satan was ready to suggest doubt; and for this the way was prepared by their own erroneous ideas of the Messiah and His coming. It was generally believed that Christ would be born at Bethlehem, but that after a time He would disappear, and at His second appearance none would know whence He came. There were not a few who held that the Messiah would have no natural relationship to humanity. And because the popular conception of the glory of the Messiah was not met by Jesus of Nazareth, many gave heed to the suggestion, ‘Howbeit we know this Man whence He is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence He is.’ ”—Ibid.
Mon
Apr 21
2. MALICIOUS PLANS PREVENTED
a. Upon reading the thoughts of His doubting listeners, what did Jesus say to them? John 7:28.
“While they were thus wavering between doubt and faith, Jesus took up their thoughts and answered them: ‘Ye both know Me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of Myself, but He that sent Me is true, whom ye know not.’ They claimed a knowledge of what the origin of Christ should be, but they were in utter ignorance of it. If they had lived in accordance with the will of God, they would have known His Son when He was manifested to them.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 457.
b. Lacking arguments to rebut Jesus, by what means did the Jewish leaders try to silence Him? John 7:30 (first part). In reality, why could they not arrest Him? John 7:30 (last part).
“The hearers could not but understand Christ’s words. Clearly they were a repetition of the claim He had made in the presence of the Sanhedrin many months before, when He declared Himself the Son of God. As the rulers then tried to compass His death, so now they sought to take Him; but they were prevented by an unseen power, which put a limit to their rage, saying to them, Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther.”—Ibid.
c. How did many express their faith in Jesus—and what did the rulers plan to do once they realized the people’s sympathy for Him? John 7:31, 32.
“The leaders of the Pharisees, who were anxiously watching the course of events, caught the expressions of sympathy among the throng. Hurrying away to the chief priests, they laid their plans to arrest Him. They arranged, however, to take Him when He was alone; for they dared not seize Him in the presence of the people.”—Ibid., pp. 457, 458.
Tue
Apr 22
3. THE INVITATION
a. On the last day of the feast, what beautiful illustration did Jesus use to offer comfort to souls weary of sin? John 7:37, 38.
“The heart that receives the word of God is not as a pool that evaporates, not like a broken cistern that loses its treasure. It is like the mountain stream, fed by unfailing springs, whose cool, sparkling waters leap from rock to rock, refreshing the weary, the thirsty, the heavy-laden. It is like a river constantly flowing and, as it advances, becoming deeper and wider, until its life-giving waters are spread over all the earth. The stream that goes singing on its way leaves behind its gift of verdure and fruitfulness. The grass on its banks is a fresher green, the trees have a richer verdure, the flowers are more abundant. When the earth lies bare and brown under the summer’s scorching heat, a line of verdure marks the river’s course.
“So it is with the true child of God. The religion of Christ reveals itself as a vitalizing, pervading principle, a living, working, spiritual energy. When the heart is opened to the heavenly influence of truth and love, these principles will flow forth again like streams in the desert, causing fruitfulness to appear where now are barrenness and dearth.”—Prophets and Kings, pp. 233, 234.
“ ‘If any man thirst’ for restful hope, for deliverance from sinful propensities, Christ says, ‘let him come unto Me, and drink.’ John 7:37.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 179.
b. How is this invitation to be further understood? John 7:39.
“Christ presented the principles of truth in the gospel. In His teaching we may drink of the pure streams that flow from the throne of God.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 309.
“What we need is a living religion. A single individual of enlarged conceptions of duty, whose soul is in communion with God and who is full of zeal for Christ, will exert a powerful influence for good. He drinks at no low, turbid, polluted stream, but from the pure, high waters at the fountainhead; and he can communicate a new spirit and power to the church. As the pressure from without increases, God would have His church vitalized by the sacred, solemn truths they believe. The Holy Spirit from heaven, working with the sons and daughters of God, will surmount obstacles and hold the vantage ground against the enemy. God has great victories in reserve for His truth-loving, commandment-keeping people.”—Ibid., vol. 5, p. 581.
Wed
Apr 23
4. WORDS LIKE NONE OTHER
a. As a result of Christ’s reference to the water of life, what did many conclude—and why? John 7:40 (compare Deuteronomy 18:15).
b. While some were inspired with hope by such a prospect, how did others react? John 7:41–44.
c. What order had the officers received from their rulers? John 7:45. Why could they not bring themselves to arrest Jesus? John 7:46.
“On the last day of the feast, the officers sent out by the priests and rulers to arrest Jesus, returned without Him. They were angrily questioned, ‘Why have ye not brought Him?’ With solemn countenance they answered, ‘Never man spake like this Man.’
“Hardened as were their hearts, they were melted by His words. While He was speaking in the temple court, they had lingered near, to catch something that might be turned against Him. But as they listened, the purpose for which they had been sent was forgotten. They stood as men entranced. Christ revealed Himself to their souls. They saw that which priests and rulers would not see—humanity flooded with the glory of divinity.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 459.
“[Christ] used the things of nature with which they were familiar, to illustrate divine truth. The soil of the heart was thus prepared to receive the good seed. He made His hearers feel that His interests were identified with theirs, that His heart beat in sympathy with them in their joys and griefs. At the same time they saw in Him the manifestation of power and excellence far above that possessed by their most-honored rabbis. The teachings of Christ were marked with a simplicity, dignity, and power heretofore unknown to them, and their involuntary exclamation was: ‘Never man spake like this Man.’ The people listened to Him gladly; but the priests and rulers—themselves false to their trust as guardians of the truth—hated Christ for the very grace revealed, which had drawn the multitudes away from them to follow the Light of life. Through their influence the Jewish nation, failing to discern His divine character, rejected the Redeemer.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 747.
Thu
Apr 24
5. A SINCERE SEEKER MATURING
a. How did the chief priests and Pharisees rebuke the officers? John 7:47–49.
b. Relate the conversation that followed with Nicodemus—revealing his growth since his nighttime interview with Christ in John chapter 3. John 7:50–52.
“[Nicodemus] hid the truth in his heart, and for three years there was little apparent fruit. But while Nicodemus had not publicly acknowledged Christ, he had in the Sanhedrin council repeatedly thwarted the schemes of the priests to destroy Him.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 104.
“The lesson that Christ had given to Nicodemus [on his nighttime visit in John chapter 3] had not been in vain. Conviction had fastened upon his mind, and in his heart he had accepted Jesus. Since his interview with the Saviour, he had earnestly searched the Old Testament Scriptures, and he had seen truth placed in the true setting of the gospel.
“The question asked by him was wise, and would have commended itself to those presiding at the council had they not been deceived by the enemy. But they were so filled with prejudice that no argument in favor of Jesus of Nazareth, however convincing, had any weight with them. The answer that Nicodemus received, was, ‘Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.’
“The priests and rulers had been deceived, as Satan meant them to be, into believing that Christ came out of Galilee. Some who knew that he was born in Bethlehem, kept silent, that the falsehood might not be robbed of its power.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1136.
Fri
Apr 25
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Why did Jesus attract the attention and the respect of the people?
2. How did the Jewish rulers persist in trying to stop Jesus?
3. What public appeal did Jesus make on the last day of the feast?
4. Explain the great controversy that ensued as a result.
5. Thinking of people I know, what should I recall about Nicodemus?