seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 7:1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] 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[b] going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.
a. John 7:1 Some manuscripts not have authority
b. John 7:8 Some manuscripts not yet
They couldn't even mention His name!
The Festival of Booths [Tabernacles] was a huge camp out!
The most interesting commentary this morning is from bible_studys.org. It appears the story needs to be laid out again.... About six months has passed since everyone but the twelve men and uncounted women, children, and slaves left Jesus. Jesus was going about His daily business. He was keeping a low profile. He wasn't holding huge pot luck dinners or mass healings by the pool at Bethesda. He wasn't holding a mass baptism at the River Jordan. He was teaching those twelve men and the uncounted women, children, and slaves who remained with Him after He blew everyone's minds with the notion of "eating His flesh" in the previous chapter. Jesus had run off the hangers on and He was teaching His Apostles so they would know the Message so the Message could be spread when the time was right.
According to one of the commentaries... there is some chatter that Jesus told a lie. In verse 8 He told His brothers He wasn't going to the festival.... but then in verse 10 He went anyway. The commentary said He lied to His brothers. Then another commentary says that the "brothers" mentioned here might not be the half brothers, Mary's other sons. It was more likely the term "brothers" refers to "brothers" as in friends.... the disciples... the Apostles in training. I don't think He lied. I think He could simply could not resist a seven day party designed to thank God, His Father, for taking care of His humans. I think He simply changed His mind.
This event takes place after the harvest.... so September or October time frame. It had been months since the last run in with the Pharisees but those Pharisees were not going to let Jesus spoil their party. They were watching for Him. He was not going to come into their Temple during one of their big events and start saying everyone can just do anything they want on the Sabbath...... and they definitely didn't want anyone there that drew a bigger crowd than they.
There were also men there who were determined to take down the Roman Government. They were protesting the conquest of their home town. They did not like all the Roman regulation. The descendants of Jacob [Israel] considered themselves "chosen" by God. They were celebrating the fact that God "chose" them to come out of Egypt and go to the "Promised Land".... their gift. They truly believed that the land was a Divine Gift from God.... and the Romans had no right to tell them what they could do and couldn't do. They heard the "Messiah" had been seen. They really thought the "Messiah" would call them together at any time and run Rome out of Jerusalem and take over as king. They tried to make Him king at the pot luck.... but He wouldn't let them. They would have been looking for Him at the Feast. They would have been watching for Him to arrive with an entourage.
The Pharisees and the warmongers would have been looking for a large crowd..... because they knew He drew crowds. They wouldn't be looking for a lone guy just walking around and smiling. They were looking for the political figure who meant to either run the Pharisees out of the Temple or run Rome out of Jerusalem or both. That's why Jesus wasn't going with His "brothers". He didn't want to take away from the festivities.
Someone I know and love got married some time ago. I was invited to the wedding but I didn't go. I don't get along well with some people who were going to be there. I wanted to be there but there was absolutely no way I could attend incognito. So I didn't attend.... and when the groom met me a few years later... He asked me about it.... I told the groom I didn't want to ruin his wedding. I think that's what Jesus was talking about... He didn't want to spoil the party but He really wanted to celebrate His Father.
He couldn't stay away though. Jesus wanted to be around humans celebrating His Father. I'm sure the last few verses are some of the things He would have heard as He walked quietly among the thousand and thousands of humans putting up their tents and enjoying the big camp-out.
He heard some say He was a good man..... who knew the scriptures and wanted to help people. They would have called Him "kind".
There were others.... who figured He was just a magician. They were sure that God would do some miracle to show that Jesus was more than just a carpenter's son from Nazareth.... they were sure the Pharisees would have been informed if God was actually sending His Messiah to Jerusalem. Since the Pharisees didn't know anything about Him being the Messiah.... then He was a fake. But none of them were willing to talk about Him in public. They were afraid of the Pharisees.... if a Pharisee didn't like what they were saying... they could be banned from the Temple.... and their world revolved around the Temple.
So... there was a huge campout in Jerusalem... and everyone was waiting for Jesus to show up.... for various reasons... and Jesus knew He couldn't draw attention to Himself. This party was for God, His Father.... not Him. So Jesus sent His entourage without Him.... but at the end of the day... He couldn't stay away..... no lying... no fanfare... no broken hearted goodbye.... just Jesus.... biding His time.... enjoying the party... smiling... enjoying being a human.
Jesus snuck into the Party.... I don't think He took His own tent.... but He was there... walking through the crowd... enjoying being a human at a party for God, His Father.... just walking through the crowd... smiling... being kind... it was a huge camp out!
Jesus just wanted to have some fun.
