First of all, we mentioned that Christians will have rivers of living water, which issue from the indwelling Holy Spirit, because Jesus has been glorified, died on the cross for us, “…and was raised because of our justification.”(Romans 4:25) It was not until Pentecost after the resurrection that the disciples truly realized the reality and actions of the Holy Spirit. We also see that the Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Christ because of His low origin. Second, we see that “no one lays hands on Him” is true from God’s perspective, and it is the same from a human perspective, because Jesus’ teachings are authoritative. Third, we see that Jesus is gracious and merciful. He did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, but told her, as before, not to do it knowingly again. A corresponding problem regarding this event was also discussed. Finally, we see that Jesus is the light of the world, not just light, but also life and love. Once again, we discuss the real meaning of judgment here. The scriptures make it very clear, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) How can we discern without judgment? Once again we see that man cannot seize Him until His time has come.
1. Rivers of living water from the Holy Spirit
“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.”(John 7:37-44)
Concerning the Feast of Booths, “Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.”(Leviticus 23: 33-36) Therefore, the greatest day of the festival is the eighth day of the Feast of Booths.
It is clearly stated here that Christians will have the indwelling Holy Spirit, that is, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”(1 Corinthians 3:16) And the Holy Spirit will flow out like rivers of living water. “And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”(John 12:23-24) He was indeed glorified and died on the cross for us, “…and was raised because of our justification.”(Romans 4:25) At that time, Jesus had not yet been crucified. Thus, no one knew what the Holy Spirit was. It was only after Judas, the traitor, had gone out at the Last Supper that the Lord said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”(John 14:16-17) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”(John 14:26)
In terms of time, there is a sequence. The scriptures say, “…if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”(John 16:7) And the Father has sent the Son, which is also clearly stated in the Bible, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””(John 20: 21) But it was not until the first Pentecost after the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection that “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.”(Acts 2:1) and they were filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:1-11). As a result, they truly realized the reality and action of the Holy Spirit.
Controversy arose among the people because of His words. Basically, the reason is in the Pharisees’ answers to Nicodemus’ words, “Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.””(John 7:50-52) We can also see the same point in what Nathanael said to Philip, “…Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? …”(John 1:46) At that time, everyone was judging Jesus Christ based on His background. How could they listen to what He said? Finally, it was mentioned that “no one laid hands on Him” because His time had not yet come.
2. Jesus’ teachings are authoritative
“The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.””(John 7:45-52).
We just mentioned that “no one lays hands on Him” is from God’s perspective. Even if we look at it from a human perspective, it will have the same result. It is very clear in other scriptures, “for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”(Matthew 7:29) How dare the officers lay hands on Him? As for the meaning of the conversation between the Pharisees and Nicodemus, we have just talked about it, so we won’t go into details here.
3. A woman caught in adultery
“[Everyone went to his home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]”(John 7:53 – 8:11)
So everyone went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. He returned to the temple the next morning to teach people. At this time, the scribes and Pharisees wanted to make things difficult for Him, so they brought a woman caught in adultery with them and said some words. It was clear why they said such word since “They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. …”(John 8:6) There is nothing surprising. Their strategy was “So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.”(Luke 20:20) This is because the Jewish Sanhedrin at that time did not have the authority to put people to death and had to give it to the governor who could put people to death.
Unexpectedly, “…Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.”(John 8:6) And He said, “…He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”(John 8:7) “When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.”(John 8:9) At that time, they were quite honest with themselves, because the order of going out was from the oldest to the youngest, and the elderly did have more opportunities to sins and committed them!
We also see that Jesus is gracious and merciful. He did not condemn the woman, but told her not to do it knowingly again, because He knew very well, just like He said to the paralytic who had been ill for thirty-eight years, “…do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”(John 5:14)
I once heard a Christian say something like this, ‘When I go to heaven, I want to ask Jesus what words He wrote on the earth with His finger?’ If this is just a joke, it is really inappropriate to make such a joke. Isn’t the Bible clear about the decency of saints? “and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”(Ephesians 5:4) If not, it can only be worse. God says things that we don’t need to know, but our old self wants to know. Is this respecting God?
4. Jesus is the light of the world
”Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge (G2919, verb) according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge(G2919), My judgment (G2920, noun) is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.”(John 8:12-20)
Jesus is not only the light of the world, but also as we said before, “I (Jesus) am the bread of life.”(John 6:48) “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”(John 14:6) And we know, “…God is love.”(1 John 4:8) Simply put, “I (Jesus) and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) So Jesus in the Trinity is also love. We can also see it from other scriptures, such as Jesus said, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”(John 15:9-10) He also said, ““This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.”(John 15:12-14) Didn’t He die on the cross for us? Obviously, the Lord Jesus is also love.
We have said that the original text uses the word G2919, which is translated differently in the Union Version for different verses, such as this verse, “For in the way you judge (G2919), you will be judged (G2919); and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”(Matthew 7:2) It has no ground for different translation for the same word. Particularly, He followed with “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”(Matthew 7:5) So this is saying that we should not be hypocrites, not that we should not judge! The scriptures make it very clear, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) How can you tell good from evil if you don’t judge? So Jesus would say, “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.”(John 8:16) The matures are the people who are conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29-30). They will make correct judgments and discern. Finally, we see again, “…because His hour had not yet come.”(John 8:20) Before His time comes, no one can seize Him.
(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)
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