Jesus arrived in Jerusalem half way through the Feast. But instead of hiding and keeping His identity concealed, He went to the Temple courts and began teaching publically. The religious leaders could not stone Him there, or arrest Him for fear of the crowds. Instead, they all listened and were amazed by His teaching from the Law of Moses. It had such a ring of truth. But how could He have so much knowledge as He was only a carpenter who had never been to any Rabbinic school?

They did not know what to make of Jesus. Nothing seemed to add up. The religious leaders were known to have issued an arrest warrant for Him, but they did not dare to seize Him in the temple or preaching publicly. Perhaps they had changed their opinion. But if He was the Christ (Messiah), they believed that He would be previously unknown and come in a surprising way. So they dismissed that possibility, because they assumed He came from Nazareth: they did not know about His Bethlehem entrance into the world, and His pre-existence with the Father in heaven.

On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, a solemn procession of priests left the Temple to draw water from the Gihon Spring, just outside the Temple Mount. It was the only immediate water supply for the city. This water was carried in a golden water jar back to the Temple and then poured over the altar. It was a symbolic reminder that God provided water out of a rock during the wilderness wanderings (Exodus 17:1-7), and the people would have been eager to see the whole ceremony through.

The security guards in the temple had been ordered to arrest Jesus (John 7:32), but they refused. They had no appetite for starting a riot in the temple because the people were starting to trust what Jesus said, and would have supported Him. But, also, the guards were listening to His teaching; they were so impressed with what He said that their consciences would not allow them to seize Him.