John 7_21-24

Post #1 of the Series — Tributary Narratives To The John 17 Prayer —

Jesus/Yehoshua is here shepherding Israel toward understanding the covenant made anew.  See the following webpost as a comment on this:  http://cvvntnotes.blogspot.ca/2012/09/the-covenant-anew.html  In this way Jesus/Yehoshua draws the discourse toward Exodus 15:25-26, and what it means that G-d is the G-d who heals Israel.  He does this by raising the question of what the Sabbath Day, the day of eternal health, really is, and by healing on the Sabbath Day he brings this into the context of circumcision, the covenant itself, as being the healing of the Adam.

The mind naturally thinks Jesus/Yehoshua is interested in healing this person or that person, and he is, but he is really interested in healing Israel.  All Israel was hoping in the promise of G-d to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  They were hoping in Yehoshua but did not know the truth that was in their own hearts.  Because of their own understanding of the hope and fear they have been given, the sheep do not at first faultlessly follow the shepherd.  The shepherd must do almost all the work at first and be very patient with the hopeful, frightened sheep, drawing them carefully to him, however long it takes.