Anchor My Faith

Travel Delayed to Jerusalem by Jesus

Scripture: John 7:3-10

Our previous lesson was primarily an introduction to this new major section in which the ministry of Jesus shifted from around the Sea of Galilee to Judea; material covered only in the gospel of John. We had just started working on the following: ^{Jn 7:3} “[The brothers of Jesus] said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. ⁴ For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵ For not even his brothers believed in him.”

Because of what Jesus was teaching at the end of the previous major section, the popularity of Jesus was decreasing as people turned away in unbelief. By feeding the 5000+ and 4000+, many saw Jesus as the Messiah they were expecting, but Jesus resisted them taking him as king. As his teaching continued to portray him as a different king of person, like living bread that must be eaten to have eternal life, people began to question who he really was. Even his brothers didn’t believe in him. If he was the Messiah, then his brothers told him that he should go Judea and demonstrate his power and build a greater following.

I find it amazing that for nearly thirty years Jesus and his brothers lived in the same house together and yet they didn’t know who he was. The humanity of Jesus was so real and his deity so well hidden that his family didn’t realize that they were living with the eternal Son of God. Having never sinned during that time, he had to in some way stand out in contrast to them. I think it did because we read in Psalms 69:8 (ESV): “I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons.”

^{Jn 7:6} “Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. ⁷ The world cannot 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 going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” ⁹ After saying this, he remained in Galilee.”

When Jesus said, “My time has not yet come” he was probably referring to his death on the cross, but this could not possibly be understood by his brothers. In reference to “your time is always here,” Jesus was telling them that it was time for them to go up to Jerusalem to the feast and be with the crowds there.

Jesus then points out the danger of going there because of his past teaching. His brothers are of the world and thus are not hated by the world, but Jesus was sent by his Father and speaks of the evil works of those of the world and is thus hated.

Because of the motives of his brothers and the tension between them and Jesus, he didn’t want to go up with them. He wanted to wait for them to leave and then he would go up alone and arrive a bit late and in secret until just the right moment to teach. Saying to his brothers that he was not going up to the feast, he did not mean that he would not go up at all, just that he was not going up with them and for now he remains in Galilee.

^{Jn 7:10} “But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.” The sense from the Greek is that Jesus is not going now, but at a more opportune time when he could go up in private.

Conclusion

How long did Jesus wait after his brothers had left before going up to Jerusalem? Was he able to keep his presence private until the right time to go public, or was he seen by someone who informed the Jews? I am sure we will find out in the next lesson.