JESUS AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
[Sidenote: St. John 7]
AFTER these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in
Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of
tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart
hence, and go into Judæa, that thy disciples also may see the works
that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret,
and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things,
shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in
him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time
is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because
I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this
feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full
come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the
feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought him
at the feast, and said, Where is he? And there was much murmuring among
the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others
said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. Howbeit no man spake openly of
him for fear of the Jews.
[Sidenote: St. John 7]
Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and
taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters,
having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not
mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know
of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh
his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in
him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the
law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou
hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Then said some of them of
Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh
boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that
this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but
when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, 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. But I know him: for I am from him, and he
hath sent me. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on
him, because his hour was not yet come. And many of the people believed
on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than
these which this man hath done?
The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning
him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take
him. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and
then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find
me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among
themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go
unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What
manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall
not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come? In the last day,
that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man
thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as
the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on
him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that
Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of
a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But
some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture
said that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of
Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people
because of him. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid
hands on him.
Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they
said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered,
Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are
ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed
on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. Nicodemus
saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and
look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. And every man went unto
his own house.