Single lesson

Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles

John 7:1–53

At the Feast of Booths, Jesus speaks in the temple and people argue about him. This chapter traces growing tension over his timing, his teaching, where he comes from, and whether people will judge him rightly.

12–17 years40 minutes

Before you teach

Jesus remains in Galilee because people in Judea seek to kill him. His brothers urge a public appearance at the feast, though they do not believe in him. Jesus says his time has not yet come, then later goes quietly. By the middle of the feast, the crowds are already whispering and divided.

Learning aim

Explain the central teaching of Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles, using two details from the reading. John 7 shows that Jesus’ words expose both belief and unbelief, and he calls people to judge with righteousness rather than by appearances.

1

Welcome: Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles

5 min

Introduce “Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles” and locate John 7:1–53. John 7 shows that Jesus’ words expose both belief and unbelief, and he calls people to judge with righteousness rather than by appearances. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.

John 7:1, John 7:27, John 7:53

2

Read and explain the passage

12 min

Jesus is in Galilee because people in Judea seek to kill him. His brothers urge him to go publicly to the feast and show his works, but the passage says they do not believe in him. Jesus answers that his time has not yet come. Later he goes to the feast quietly, not openly.

Some in Jerusalem wonder whether Jesus is the one the rulers seek to kill. Others ask whether he may be the Christ, while objecting that they know where he is from. Jesus says he has not come from himself, but from the one who sent him, whom they do not know. Some want to arrest him, while many believe.

On the last and greatest day, Jesus invites the thirsty to come to him and drink. The writer explains that he spoke about the Spirit, to be received by those who believe in him. The crowd divides again. Officers return empty-handed, but the Pharisees answer with scorn, and Nicodemus asks whether the law judges without first hearing a man.

Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.

John 7:1, John 7:3, John 7:4, John 7:5, John 7:6, John 7:8, John 7:10, John 7:25, John 7:26, John 7:27, John 7:28, John 7:29, John 7:30, John 7:31, John 7:32, John 7:37, John 7:38, John 7:39, John 7:40, John 7:41, John 7:43, John 7:45, John 7:46, John 7:47, John 7:48, John 7:49, John 7:50, John 7:51, John 7:52, John 7:53

3

Discuss the details and their meaning

8 min

Use the three questions below. Begin with “What contrast do you see between the brothers’ advice and the way Jesus actually goes to the feast?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. John 7 shows that Jesus’ words expose both belief and unbelief, and he calls people to judge with righteousness rather than by appearances. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.

John 7:4, John 7:6, John 7:8, John 7:10, John 7:16, John 7:17, John 7:18, John 7:35, John 7:36, John 7:46, John 7:47, John 7:49, John 7:51, John 7:52

4

Make and respond: Read and respond sheet

12 min

Work on “Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles: Read and respond sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.

John 7:1, John 7:27, John 7:53

5

Closing: return to Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles

3 min

Revisit John 7:1–53. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.

John 7:1, John 7:27, John 7:53

Questions to explore

What contrast do you see between the brothers’ advice and the way Jesus actually goes to the feast?

Compare their call for public display with Jesus’ words about his time and the note that he went quietly.

John 7:4, John 7:6, John 7:8, John 7:10

How does Jesus say a person can recognise whether his teaching is from God?

Notice what Jesus says about desiring to do God’s will, the source of his teaching, and whose glory is being sought.

John 7:16, John 7:17, John 7:18

How do misunderstanding and hostility appear near the end of the chapter?

Look at the crowd’s confusion about where Jesus will go, the officers’ report, and the Pharisees’ harsh reply to both the crowd and Nicodemus.

John 7:35, John 7:36, John 7:46, John 7:47, John 7:49, John 7:51, John 7:52

Make, think or respond

Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles: Read and respond sheet

What you’ll need

  • plain paper or card
  • pencils or pens
  • a Bible or the source reading on this page

Try it together

  1. Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A key statement”, “A supporting detail”, “A question to discuss”.
  2. Read John 7:1–53. Use “Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
  3. Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
  4. Write one sentence explaining the passage, using a detail from your sheet as evidence.

The finished sheet keeps the details of Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.

Adapt for your group

  • For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
  • For confident readers, compare two sections of John 7:1–53. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.

An optional closing prayer

“God, help us listen carefully as we read John 7:1–53. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”

Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic

John 7

1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.

3 His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.

4 For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.”

5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

6 Jesus therefore said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.

7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.

8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled.”

9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee.

10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.

11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he?”

12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.”

13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.

14 But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”

16 Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God or if I am speaking from myself.

18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

19 Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?”

20 The multitude answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?”

21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work and you all marvel because of it.

22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.

23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?

24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill?

26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?

27 However, we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”

28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know.

29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”

30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.

31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?”

32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.

33 Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.

34 You will seek me and won’t find me. You can’t come where I am.”

35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?

36 What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me, and won’t find me;’ and ‘Where I am, you can’t come’ ?”

37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!

38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”

39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.

40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”

41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “What, does the Christ come out of Galilee?

42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

43 So a division arose in the multitude because of him.

44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”

46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”

47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you?

48 Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in him?

49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is cursed.”

50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them,

51 “Does our law judge a man unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”

52 They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

53 Everyone went to his own house,

World English Bible Classic. Public domain.

Source passages

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