The Advice of Jesus’ Brothers
December 30, 2022
Commentary
The events of this chapter take place six months after the feeding of the 5000 and the great speech that Jesus gave in the synagogue at Capernaum on the “bread of life.” In the opening words of this chapter it shows that Jesus is aware of growing hostility against him and that the Jews in Judea are seeking a way to kill him(v. 1). Many of the multitudes and some of His disciples who have followed Him everywhere He went, have now ceased to follow Him. The feast of tabernacles was at hand which occurred in Jerusalem in early October and was eight days in length. During this time the inhabitants of Jerusalem built booths out of tree limbs and thatched roofs, and the families moved out of their houses and lived in them during this period of time. This was to remind them of the forty years they had wandered as pilgrims in the wilderness and lived in tents (v. 2).
Jesus’ brothers had a difficult time believing in Him and for several years they were embarrassed by Him. As the feast drew near, the four brothers of Jesus (James and Jude who later wrote two letters of the New Testament and Joses and Simon) come to Him to give him some advice (vv. 3-5).
You need to get out of the “sticks” (Galilee) and go to Jerusalem.Your Judean followers need to witness the miracles you have been doing here.If you want to reach the nation you need to get where people can see what you are doing.Your gifts are being wasted here in Galilee. You need to get out and demonstrate your miracles to the whole world. Jesus is saying, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime and I will come later. (vv. 6-14). The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.
Application
This same kind of reasoning is used in many Churches today. They say that witnessing has got to be done in a systematic way. I just need to follow what Jesus says in His Word.
John 7:1– 14 (NET)
1 After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He stayed out of Judea because the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him. 2 Now the Jewish Feast of Shelters was near. 3 So Jesus’ brothers advised him, “Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples may see your miracles that you are performing. 4 For no one who seeks to make a reputation for himself does anything in secret. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 (For not even his own brothers believed in him.)
6 So Jesus replied, “My time has not yet arrived, but you are ready at any opportunity! 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I am testifying about it that its deeds are evil. 8 You go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast because my time has not yet fully arrived.” 9 When he had said this, he remained in Galilee.
10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then Jesus himself also went up, not openly but in secret. 11 So the Jewish leaders were looking for him at the feast, asking, “Where is he?” 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some were saying, “He is a good man,” but others, “He deceives the common people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jewish leaders.
14 When the feast was half over, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.