Book of John,  Discipleship

#25 John 7:1-13

September 28, 2021 /

Leader:  Have your Student write down the Passage and the Questions. Then, give them a week to prepare.

Passage: John 7:1-13

Questions: 

  • 1) What is Jesus’ brother’s reason for Jesus going to the feast?
  • 2) What is Jesus’ response?
  • 3) What questions do you have?

Then, this week the Student will:  

  • Read the Passage every day!
  • Handwrite the Passage
  • Answer the questions 

When you do meet again, you will go over this… 

John 7:1-13

7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.

Notes for Leader:

Open your time together with prayer. Be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to lead the conversation and teach what needs to be learned and heard during your discussion. He will give you the words that you need! May you grow closer together and closer to Jesus.

Briefly review what you learned last week. Now, let’s see what else we can discover about who Jesus is…

1) What is Jesus’ brother’s reason for Jesus going to the feast?

v3 to see the miracles

v4 they want him to be famous, to stand out

v5 they did not believe in him

The brothers wanted to be famous alongside Jesus, they did not yet understand why he had come!  They did not yet understand that he came to Save the world from sin which separates people from God, he did not come to be a political Savior and save people from temporary discomfort.  He is worried about our eternity!

2) What is Jesus’ response?

v6 “the right time” was not here yet

What makes something the right time? God directs Jesus’ steps, Jesus walks in God’s will and will not go outside of it.

In Greek Kalros=right time

John 17:1 … the hour has come. This is Kalros, the right time. 

John 2:4 In Cana – my time has not yet come

John 4:21 With the Samaritan Woman at the Well – a time is coming

John 5:25 and those who hear will live – a time is coming

Feast of Tabernacles (also called Feast of Booths) – this is a festival of Thanksgiving for the harvest. This is a time to look back to when they lived in tents in the wilderness and God provided for them, to thank God for the harvest now, and to look forward to the arrival of the Kingdom of God and all it’s bounty. People live in tents (tabernacles) like they did in the wilderness. They trust God for provision and safety. This festival lasts for 7 days.  

3) What questions do you have?

Don’t be nervous about this one… the Holy Spirit will help you answer. If you are discipling a young child (and most others!), remember that they are not expecting a doctoral dissertation when you answer, so keep it simple and true. And, it is ok to say, “I am not sure, let’s look into that together.” And then add that question to your study for next week. 

Allow the Spirit to lead a great conversation!

***Here is the passage and questions for next week’s study. Give your student the week to write out the passage and prepare for your discussion.

Passage: John 7:14-24

Questions: 

  • 1) What is the source of Jesus’ teaching?
  • 2) What does that mean to us?
  • 3) What questions do you have?