7 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 Booths, was
near. 3 Therefore
His brothers said to Him,
“Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which 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 So
Jesus said to them, “My time
is not yet here, 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 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 if, in secret.
Jesus had become popular. Because of his “signs,” he had
developed a following. This passage talks about an interaction with his flesh
and blood brothers.
It tells us “the Jews were seeking to kill Him.” Not
everyone was amazed by the healings he did. He had enemies. Life was not
without it’s concerns. I find the Christian life to be that way. There are
worries. Concerns. Problems. Troubles. I’ve never had a group of people seeking
to kill me. That has to be intense. “What if the Jews send people after me?” we
might think. “How can I ever go back there again?” I have a friend in India who
was beaten by a group of men opposing his Christian faith. It was nasty. Those
men would stand outside near his house in the days following. An intimidation
factor when he walked out the door. How do you remain calm in the face of
people who really do not like you, and want to harm you?
If he was really somebody special his brothers wanted him to
go to the Festival and prove it. “Show yourself to the world,” they said.
The story goes on that “not even his brothers were believing
in Him.” His own flesh and blood did not believe in him. Due to our own fault
or our families misunderstanding of us, it’s painful to have those close to us
not believe in us. So Jesus life was not a bed of roses.
In verse 6 Jesus says, “My time is not yet here, but your
time is always opportune.” He indicates he will not go up to the festival.
This shows there is such a thing as the timing of God. Can
it be that God has timing in the events and relationships of our life? Jesus
was subject to an internal commitment to God’s timing. As for his unbelieving
brothers, he said “you can do what you want, when you want.” But He chose God’s
timing.
He did go to the festival. When He sensed it was God’s
timing.
So two lessons here for us who are Christians. One, things
may not be going well. We may have enemies and doubters. Don’t give up.
Secondly, seek to be aware of God’s timing in matters. Ask Him about it. There
might be a good reason for waiting, - or for doing something urgently.
