1 And after these things Jesus was walking in Galilee; for He was unwilling to walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of the Booths, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may behold Your works with you are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret, when he himself seeks to be known publicly If you do these things, show Yourself to the world." 5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him. 6 Jesus therefore said to them, "My time, is not yet at hand, but your time is always opportune. 7 The world cannot hate you; but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. 8 Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come." 9 And having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.
10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as it were, in secret. 11 The Jews were therefore seeking Him at the feast, and were saying, "Where is He?" 12 And there was much grumbling among the multitudes concerning Him; some were saying, "He is a good man"; others were saying, "No, on the contrary, He leads the multitudes astray." 13 Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
Message: At the Feast of Booths
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: Chapter 7 begins with Jesus in Galilee. In Chapter 6, he had crossed the sea of Galilee to Capernaum and spent time there at the synagogue speaking to people - Jews and the multitudes following after Him. He is in Galilee walking and not in Judea for his time had not yet come and in Judea he knew "the Jews were seeking to kill him."
At this time, the Feast of the Booths is at hand. This is 6 months later from the Passover mentioned in Chapter 6. The Feast of the Booths was a joyous celebration as it brought many people together, celebrating the 40 years of Jews spent in desert after slavery. During this time Jews would make a trek to Jerusalem and live in small homes or sukkahs because this is how they lived after the exodus.
On the heels of the last text is Jesus turning to His disciples after some of the multitude had left him, not really agreeing to give their lives in service to the Lord. Their belief was not complete. It was not surrendering all to the Lord (6:64). And now his brothers seek to tell Him (Jesus) what his purpose is to be as they want Him to make Himself known publicly before all. It seems normal to ask Him to go to Jerusalem with them to celebrate this festival, but Jesus knew something they didn't. He knew His death was on the horizon. But He had more to accomplish. Jesus would not go with them, but He still went, but He went in His way, at His time, so as to not place Him at the center of attention.
The Jews did not like Jesus. He spoke in a way that communicated His authority, that He had come from the Father, sent by the Father and He is asking people to believe in Him for eternal life. The Jews had comfort in what they knew and Jesus was threatening this comfort. I even see today as Jesus threatens my comfort but to deny Myself each day is not easy. It is hard to surrender what I want for what He wants. I know there are riches that come from this and nevertheless it is difficult and against my nature. I have my own agendas as to what I want and want Jesus to be.
Summary: Jesus' brothers ask him to join them on their journey to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booth and to publicly speak to people, but Jesus knows His time not yet come and will go in private.
Promise: From Tabletalk, "When we preach the gospel, people may hate us as well. Let us make sure that they hate us because of the gospel message, not because of our offensive personalities."
Prayer: O God, you are Savior and Lord. You are the first and the last and You are the one that has come to save the World. Thank you for your message of hope continually in our lives. Thank you for saving me and taking me from the path of the wicked. Work in me continually to glorify You and make you known. Thank you for these truths.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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