John 7:1-13
Jesus Goes to the Feast of Tabernacles
1After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles 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, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8You go to the Feast. I am not yet[a] going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." 9Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?"
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 Jews.
Especially when we are young popularity is important to many...It seems human nature has a need for man to listen to him and to have friends...Jesus on the other hand knew about the flesh and tells us it accounts for nothing...
The Jews now were waiting to take His life...They would be at the Feast of the Tabernacles...This feast lasted a week, and celebrates the people wandering from Egypt to Israel...The feast is celebrated by staying in tents or booths during the week as a celebration of their trek to Israel with God...
Jesus had just lost many disciples, and now St. John tells us even His brothers did not believe in Him...It seems His ministry is falling apart or at least is losing members and going through a slump, when it comes to followers...Jesus life was not about being popular or even having a lot of followers who did not believe in what He taught...Jesus is here to teach us about the Father, and His Spirit, and His eternity...He doesn't care, in the sense that He is losing followers and that it comes at a cost of His own brothers not believing... Jesus did not want necessarily to be a public figure...His brothers told Him no one who wants to be a public figure acts in secret (therefore, He needed to go to the Feast of Tabernacles, and be seen)...They probably assumed He wanted and had political ambitions...His brothers had known Him all His life...They probably believed, He was just like one of them...
So from strangers, to close acquaintances, to even those closest to Him (His brothers), Jesus' message is the Father...Jesus does not appeal to everybody (even today)...His message is our Father, our Father, our Father...God is Almighty...He never lost track of this, as we read the four gospels, while He was on earth...He teaches us,that it is hard to have and love treasures in this world and to have and love treasures in His Father's Kingdom...We can only have One Master, One Father...Since He is still alive, I am assured that is still His message...
The next message in these verses, is He is always doing the will of the Father...Jesus told His brother and others that the time has not yet come; for you (on earth) any time is right...Jesus was under God's plan, God's time, and doing God's will...This was all planned out...In fact, He later does go to the Feast of Tabernacles...He is doing the will of the Father, in the Father's time frame...We get the sense that Jesus is in touch with the Father, and not in sync with man...But this lends further evidence, He is the Messiah...
Then St. John further tells us of the fractured nature of His followers and those that have heard Him...While at the Feast, some ask where is that man (Jesus)???...Others say He is a good man...Still others say, He deceives the people...But still most did not say anything in public about Him, for they feared the Jews and what they might do...
Jesus is the truth...This was true when He was on earth...The questions one asked then and one ask now about Him, does not change the truth...Those who do not believe and think He is deceiving, they do not believe...Others do not want to think about it, or talk about Him and His beliefs, because of the controversy it can bring...When talking and thinking about Him one has to make a decision about Him...Who is He, is He the One???...Some people do not want to make this decision...Jesus is the truth, even today...The same questions are being ask (today) about Him, and some of the people do not want to talk about Him or think about Him today, because of controversy and the decision they must make about Him...