The Gospel of John
Officers sent to Arrest Jesus, Rivers of Living Water, Division Among the People
John 7:32–52
Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture. Reread them. From memory, determine the central points.
- The religious authorities feel threatened by all the attention Jesus is receiving. They send the temple guard to arrest Him and He tells them He is leaving and they will not be able to find Him.
- The officers surmise He means He will be going to those Jews who live outside of Palestine, in the broad Roman world. Jesus states again that they (the Jewish leaders) will seek Him but will not be able to find Him.
- On the last day of the Feast of Booths, at the time of the final pouring out of water taken from the Pool of Siloam in a golden pitcher, Jesus cries out to the crowd “If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink.” And once this occurs, “out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
- John explains, in verse 39, that Jesus is referring to the Spirit which believers would receive at a time after the glorification of Jesus. This points ahead to the resurrection following Jesus’ crucifixion.
- Those who heard Jesus speak of the working of the Holy Spirit, were divided among themselves. Some thought He must certainly be the prophet, likely referring to Deuteronomy 18:15–18, where Moses speaks of a “prophet” who is to come. Others said Jesus must be the Christ.
- The “prophet” and the “Christ” are really one in the same, Jesus being that prophet Moses spoke of and also the Messiah or Christ. John the Baptist was not this prophet, he was the announcer of the coming of the Messiah. (see Malachi 3:1–4)
- Many knew that the Christ was to come from Bethlehem of Judea, but the general understanding was that Jesus was from Galilee and so could not be the Christ. It is interesting that Jesus never attempted an explanation.
- Though some wanted Jesus to be arrested, in some mysterious way, they were not able to. Fact is, it was not Jesus’ time to be arrested. That time would come later.
- Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, pointed out to them that Jesus was being condemned improperly. He was not even given a hearing.
- Members of the council of Israel belittled Nicodemus and rejected his advise.
- Nothing has changed from that day to this. Unless the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the blind, Jesus will remain hidden and rejected.