What is the meaning of John 7:2? However • The word signals a turn in the narrative. In the previous verse, “Jesus went around in Galilee; He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill Him” (John 7:1). • “However” tells us that, despite opposition, God’s redemptive timetable keeps moving forward (cf. John 2:4; Luke 13:33). • It reminds us that human hostility never thwarts divine purpose (Acts 4:27-28). The Jewish Feast • Scripture calls the appointed festivals “the LORD’s feasts” (Leviticus 23:2), yet here John stresses their Jewish identity. By the first century these gatherings carried both divinely ordained meaning and national flavor. • As one of the three pilgrimage feasts, every Jewish male was expected to attend (Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16). • These feasts formed a yearly rhythm that pointed ahead to Christ (Colossians 2:16-17). Previously, Jesus had already attended Passover (John 2:13) and another feast in Jerusalem (John 5:1). Of Tabernacles • Also called Booths or Ingathering (Leviticus 23:34; Deuteronomy 16:13), it commemorated God’s provision during Israel’s wilderness journey and celebrated the final harvest. • Participants lived in temporary shelters, visually recalling God’s faithful care (Nehemiah 8:14-18). • In this chapter Jesus will stand “on the last and greatest day of the feast” and proclaim, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37-38), revealing Himself as the true Source of living water foretold in Zechariah 14:8, 16-17. • The feast’s nightly lamp-lighting prepared hearts to hear Jesus declare, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Was near • John dates the events precisely, grounding the narrative in real time. Earlier, he noted that “the Jewish Passover was near” (John 6:4). Now, several months later, Tabernacles approaches, placing us in early autumn. • The nearness of the feast presses a decision on Jesus’ unbelieving brothers (John 7:3-5) and sharpens the conflict with the religious leaders (John 7:11, 32). • God’s appointed times arrive right on schedule; Jesus will not go up until “the right time” determined by His Father (John 7:6-10; Galatians 4:4). Summary John 7:2 anchors the coming dialogue and controversy in the reality of the Feast of Tabernacles. The transitional “However” bridges mounting opposition with God’s unfolding plan. By naming “the Jewish Feast,” the text connects national expectation to divine revelation. Calling it “Tabernacles” recalls God’s past provision while foreshadowing Jesus’ offer of living water and light. Finally, noting the feast “was near” sets the stage for the exact moment when Christ will reveal more of His identity, proving that heaven’s timetable is always fulfilled, no matter the human resistance. |
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