The Gospel of John 7:1-13 (Jesus brothers don’t understand him.)

We move on to John 7:1-13 where Jesus's family refuses to believe who he is.

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. ²But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, ³Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. ⁴No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

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

¹⁰However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. ¹¹Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”

¹²Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” ¹³But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.

Questions for discussion:

Can you tell me what is the Festival of Tabernacles? Do Christians celebrate it?
Where else did we read Jesus say, “My time has not come,” in the Gospel of John?
People who supported Jesus feared to say anything publicly. Do you have that same fear? Why?

Leave a Comment:

1 comment

Rick says September 16, 2023

1. Can you tell me what is the Festival of Tabernacles? Do Christians celebrate it?

The Feast of the Tabernacles(booths), aka Sukkot, is a week-long fall festival commemorating the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness. (Exodus 23:16, 34:22; Leviticus 23:34-43; Numbers 29:12-40; Deuteronomy 16:13-15; Ezra 3:4; Nehemiah 8:13-18, Zechariah 14:16-18) Along with Passover and Festival of Weeks, it is one of the three great pilgrimage feasts recorded in the Bible where all Jewish males are required to appear before the Lord at the Jerusalem Temple. Christians rarely celebrate the Feast of the Tabernacles. However, The prophet Zechariah foretells of a time when all nations will ascend to Jerusalem from year to year to “worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (14:16).

2. Where else did we read Jesus say, “My time has not come,” in the Gospel of John?

John 2:4 at the Canaan wedding where his mother asked him to deal with the shortage of wine problem. “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

3. People who supported Jesus feared to say anything publicly. Do you have that same fear? Why?

No, I do not have a fear of talking about Jesus in public. However, there is a right time and method of doing so. I do not like Christians telling of Jesus “out of the blue.” When Jesus taught his disciples, he first built up a relationship with them. You especially see that in the calling of Peter (throw your net on the other side of the boat) and Nathanael (I saw you sitting under the fig tree.) Sometimes people are only three questions away from talking about God and/or their lives.

Add Your Reply