Often we picture Jesus’ ministry as being full of miracles, rebuking the rulers of the day, teaching the crowds through parables before retiring to mountains to pray most of the night. But John 7 reveals some of the difficulties Jesus faced during his ministry.
It is clear that Jesus usually attended the mandatory feasts, as the law required (Exodus 23v17). But as the Feast of Booths approached, Jesus remained in Galilee instead of going to Judea. The rest of his family went, and the Jews “were looking for him at the feast”. Despite Jesus telling his disciples “I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come”, Jesus secretly went to the feast. During the feast, Jesus visits the temple and began teaching, provoking amazement that he understood the scriptures, despite having “never studied”. Two attempts were made to arrest Jesus during this feast, but “his hour had not yet come”.
Jesus taught that he was keeping God’s will, that his teaching was from God. “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me”. He continued his theme about living water on the last day of the feast, proclaiming “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink”. Like Jesus, our life is not meant to be easy, but we are meant to follow his example, following his teaching, and be sustained by the living water.