1 Then after these things happened, Jesus traveled in Galilee [only], for He did not want to move around in Judea because the Jews [there] were trying to kill Him. 2 Now it was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles [Note: This was also called "Festival of Shelters," and was one of three principal, annual Jewish festivals and commemorated the occasion of the Israelites living in tents or shelters during their forty year wandering in the desert]. 3 Then Jesus' [half-] brothers said to Him, "You should leave here and go to Judea so your disciples [there] can see the [supernatural] deeds you are performing. 4 For no one does things secretly if he wants to become known publicly. Since you are doing such things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even Jesus' [half-] brothers did not believe in Him [i.e., at that time].
6 So, Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come [i.e., to be revealed to the world as its Savior], but it is always your time [i.e., they could go to the festival anytime without rousing opposition]. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about its deeds, that they are evil. 8 You men go [on] up to the festival, but I am not going up yet [Note: Although "yet" appears in only a few manuscripts, it seems to be the proper idea here], because my time has not yet come. [See verse 6]. 9 Then after saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee [i.e., for awhile longer. See next verse].
10 But after His [half-] brothers had gone up to the Festival, Jesus also went up, but secretly instead of openly. 11 So, the Jews [i.e., their authorities] began searching for Him at the Festival, and were saying, "Where is he?" 12 And there was much whispering about Him among the crowds. Some were saying, "He is a good man," [but] others said, "No [he is not], he is [just] deceiving the crowd." 13 However, no one said anything about Him openly for fear of the Jews.
14 But when the Festival was about half over, Jesus went up into the Temple and began teaching. 15 Now the Jewish authorities were amazed, saying, "How can this man know so much, since he has never been educated?"
16 So, Jesus answered them, "What I am teaching is not mine, but [it belongs] to Him who sent me [i.e., to God]. 17 If anyone [really] desires to do what God wants, he will know whether my teaching comes from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority [only]. 18 The person who speaks on his own authority is [just] trying to gain honor for himself. But the One who tries to gain honor from God, who sent Him, is [committed to] truth, and there is nothing false in His heart. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet not one of you is obeying it? Why are you trying to kill me?"
20 [Someone from] the crowd answered, "You have an evil spirit [in you]; who is trying to kill you?"
21 Jesus answered them, "I performed one [miraculous] deed and you were all amazed by it [i.e., the healing of the crippled man on the Sabbath day. See 5:1-9]. 22 [Now] Moses gave you [the ordinance of] circumcision and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath day. (Although it was [first] required by [your] forefathers, and not Moses). 23 If a person is circumcised on a Sabbath day so that the law of Moses can be observed [properly, then why] are you upset with me for restoring a person to complete health on a Sabbath day? 24 Do not make judgments based [merely] on how things look, but make judgments on how they really are."
25 Some of the people of Jerusalem said [about Jesus], "Is not this person the one they are trying to kill? 26 And look, he is speaking openly and they are not saying anything to him [about it]. Can it be that the [Jewish] authorities know that he really is the Messiah [i.e., the Christ, God's specially chosen one]? 27 However, we know where this man comes from, but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from."
28 As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, He spoke out, and said, "You people [think you] know who I am and where I come from. I have not come on my own authority, but God, who sent me, is true and you do not know Him. 29 I know Him because I came from Him, for He sent me."
30 Then they [i.e., the authorities] tried to arrest Jesus, but no one laid a hand on Him because His time had not yet come. 31 But many people in the crowd believed in Him, saying, "When the Messiah does come, will he perform more [miraculous] signs than this man has done?"
32 The Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion] heard the crowd whispering these things about Him, so the leading priests and Pharisees sent some Temple guards to arrest Him.
33 Therefore, Jesus said, "I will be with you for a little while longer, then I will go to the Father who sent me. 34 You people will be looking for me, but you will not find me; and you will not be able to go where I will be."
35 The Jews [i.e., the authorities] were saying among themselves, "Where will this man go that we will not be able to find him? Will he go where the Jewish people are scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean by saying, 'You people will be looking for me, but will not find me; and you will not be able to go where I will be?'"
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the Festival [of Tabernacles], Jesus stood up and spoke out, "If anyone is thirsty he should come to me for a drink. 38 As the Scripture has recorded [Note: The following is not an exact quotation from the OT, but echoes Isa. 58:11 and Zech. 14:8], 'Streams of life-giving water will flow from the person's heart who believes in me.'" 39 Now He said this about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive [See Acts 2:38]. For [at that time] the Holy Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet received splendor [in heaven].
40 When they heard these words some people in the crowd said, "Truly, this man is the prophet." [See note on 1:21]. 41 Others said, "He is the Christ." But [still] others said, "What [do you mean]? The Christ will not come from Galilee, [will he]? 42 Does not Scripture say [Micah 5:2] that the Christ will come as the descendant of King David, and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" 43 So, a division arose among people in the crowd over Jesus. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one [attempted to] lay a hand on Him.
45 So, [when] the Temple guards [See verse 32] returned to the leading priests and Pharisees, they were asked, "Why did you not bring Jesus here?"
46 The guards answered, "No one has ever spoken like this man."
47 The Pharisees replied, "Are you being led astray, too? 48 Have any of the authorities or Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law of Moses, [and especially its oral traditions], is cursed [by God]."
50 [Now] Nicodemus (being a leading Pharisee, and the one who went to talk to Jesus one night), said to them, 51 "Does our law pass judgment on a man before first hearing from him and learning what he did?"
52 They answered him, "Are you from Galilee, too? Search [the Scriptures], and you will see that no prophet will come from Galilee." [Note: They were probably referring to "the prophet" predicted to come by Moses. Deut. 18:15]. {{Most ancient manuscripts do not contain the section from 7:53 through 8:11, or else place it elsewhere in the book.
53 Then everyone went home,