Jesus Delays His Visit to Jerusalem - JOHN 7

This morning I am reading from John, starting in the 7th chapter. It starts with Jesus not going to Judea, because the leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. The issue was that He had healed the man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, and then when questioned about it, He said He was God's son, which to them was blasphemy. This healing and conversations that followed caused widespread wonder as well as hatred among the leaders (See John 5: 1-30). Anyway, here are the verses I want to focus upon today - John 7:1-8, 14-15, 25-27 NIV:

[1] "After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. [2] But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, [3] Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. [4] No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” [5] For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

[6] Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. [7] The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. [8] You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” [9] After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

[14] Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. [15] The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”

[25] At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? [26] Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? [27] But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

I had forgotten about the situation with the leaders in Judea thinking of ways to kill Jesus. I guess it just caught my imagination this morning, thinking of Jesus going to the festival in secret. How would he do that? Did he send the Apostles away so He could travel alone?

Also, its interesting that His brothers encouraged Him to go to Jerusalem. I believe that their encouragement wasn't related to the death threats Jesus knew existed, but rather they wanted to see Him on more of a national stage. The feast of the tabernacles, was one of three feasts where all men were supposed to go to Jerusalem, so it was a perfect time to reveal oneself to the masses, at least that is the way we humans tend to think. If a stage is available use it.

However, Jesus was following the Father's plan and the time wasn't right, but would be soon. Also, it wasn't about Him, as His brothers thought. He was fine operating in "secret'. Galilee wasn't exactly secret, but it was the more rural, back country area. There was a time and a place for His to "up His game " and He would do that when the Father said to, not a moment sooner.

I did a bit more reading on this set of verses and it is interesting to note that there are many who think that Jesus lied in telling His brothers that he wasn't going to the feast yet, then went secretly. That wasn't my focus at all, I was focused on why He wanted to go alone. I think it had to do with His desire to protect them from themselves, and trying to glorify Him in some way, for they still thought that anyone who would be the Messiah was going to become the ruler, and there would be positions of glory waiting for his companions. Also, if they were trying to kill Jesus, his companions would be in danger as well, as we see later the night that Jesus was betrayed.

Additionally, the feast of the tabernacles was in the 7th Month, and Jesus knew that the feast of significance for His sacrifice was Passover, for He was the Lamb of God. So truly it was not yet His time, nor the time when the Father would glorify Him. Thus, the key to understanding this verse, and Jesus actions is seen later in John when He was again in Jerusalem for a feast, but this time His time had come and entered in full public view.

Finally, my thought are simply that Jesus embraced His purpose fully, and was completely obedient to the plans and desires of the Father. He also, through the power of the Holy Spirit, knew the hearts of men, and understood what they were thinking, and why. He was not afraid of opposition or danger, or anything else of man, for He knew the Father was firmly in control, so He just did what the Father showed Him to do, and explained to His brethren what He could say.